In the classroom, an ordinary silence prevailed as the rest of the group absorbed the lesson. Nadia, Alicia, and Natan tried to focus, but their thoughts kept circling back to recent events. Leon, meanwhile, had not shown up for class—again skipping lessons, confident and untouchable.
During the break, Sara walked alone down the hallway. Her face was calm, but a shadow of unease lingered in her eyes. Suddenly, Leon appeared from around the corner, his gaze flashing with icy coldness.
"Well, what a surprise, Sara," he said, his voice full of contempt. "I thought you'd forgotten everything long ago. But no, right? You're the reason Alan died."
Sara stopped, her heart racing. She gave no sign of fear."What do you want?" she asked coldly.
"I'll remind you," he began, stepping dangerously close. "Alan sacrificed himself for you, and you never really loved him. You were always too weak to understand what true love means. It's your fault he had to die."
Sara clenched her jaw, trying to steady the tremor in her voice."Stop with the nonsense. Alan was and always will be a hero, and I loved him," she said firmly. "I will never let you speak about him—or me—like that."
The General smiled coldly, satisfied with the effect he had caused."This is only the beginning. Remember that," he whispered, then walked away, leaving Sara trembling with the weight of old wounds reopened.
She stood alone in the hallway, feeling her heart pounding in her chest. The General's words had struck her like a blade, igniting old wounds that still bled beneath the thin veneer of her outward calm. For a moment, anger mingled with despair—anger at herself for failing to save Alan, and pain that someone so ruthless, consumed by darkness, could so easily awaken her deepest fears.
"You never loved him…" The words echoed in her mind, though she knew they were false. Alan had been her teenage love, her hero, yet she felt the thin line between memory and nightmare beginning to blur.
Voices from the classroom pierced the quiet as some students returned, noticing Sara in the hallway. A few saw her pale face and trembling hands. Natan immediately looked at her with concern, and Nadia sensed that something had happened, though she did not yet know what.
Alicia noticed Sara trying to compose herself."Are you okay?" she asked quietly.
Sara forced a smile, though inside she felt as if she were breaking apart."Yes, it's nothing," she replied, knowing she would have to face the demons the General had awakened anew.
***
Late in the afternoon, as the daylight softened and the shadows of the long trees stretched across the school garden, Nadia, Alicia, Natan, and Nadia's mother, Sara, gathered in a secluded room in the old part of the building. The air was heavy with tension, and each of them understood this was the moment to act.
Sara placed an old, leather-bound book in front of her—the book of Maria, left by her grandmother, a medium. Its pages, filled with mystical symbols and rituals, held the power to strip the General of his control over Leon's body. The woman had not been able to initiate it, killed by Hanna's betrayal.
"This is the only way," Sara said, respectfully flipping through the pages. "We must summon the purification ritual, which requires the combination of our strength, courage, and the purity of our intentions. Without it, the General will remain in Leon's body, growing stronger and unstoppable with each passing day."
Alicia nodded, feeling the weight of the responsibility resting on her as a medium. Natan clenched his fists, ready to protect his friends at all costs.
Nadia looked at her mother with a mixture of hope and fear."What must we do?" she asked quietly.
Sara smiled faintly, but determination shone in her eyes."It won't be easy. We need to find three key elements: the essence of light, which comes from a pure heart, the power of water from the pond, and the memory of ancient souls—and above all, we must be together, because only our unity can defeat this demon."
The four exchanged glances—the beginning of a plan that could change everything, and perhaps free Leon from the General's power.
***
The evening air was cool and damp as Sara approached the edge of the pond, shrouded in mist and the soft rustle of trees. Unease flickered in her eyes, but so did determination—she knew she had to collect the water, essential for the ritual that would cleanse Leon's body of the General's presence.
The pond was a place Sara had known for years. As a teenager, she had encountered darkness here, echoes of which still haunted her. Now, standing above the water's surface, she noticed spectral figures forming—pale apparitions of twins whose souls were trapped in the pond. Their eyes gleamed with cold light, and their presence reminded Sara of old nightmares and the price she had paid to be free from the General.
The spirits hovered slightly above the water, their presence seeming to stretch time and space. Sara felt a chill ripple through her body as memories surged back in full intensity—moments when she had been pulled beneath the surface, fighting for her life, her soul, her freedom.
But this time she was stronger. She spoke softly, yet firmly:"Please, let me take this water. I promise I will let you leave this place at last. We need your power to stop the General."
The apparitions hesitated, then slowly receded, allowing Sara to immerse a vessel into the water. Once she had collected the necessary amount, she carefully set it on the bank. Her heart pounded, her mind filled with words of prayer and hope. She knew every step of this ritual would be a battle—not only against the General but against her own demons from the past.
Meanwhile, the trio—Nadia, Alicia, and Natan—gathered in a secluded room where Maria's Book lay open on the table. The yellowed pages, filled with intricate, ancient writing, radiated an aura of primal power.
Still trembling from recent experiences, Nadia reached out and gently touched the text. Her fingers traced the words describing purification rituals and the summoning of light. Alicia, focused and vigilant, studied the illustrations and inscriptions of protective seals meant to prevent the General's return.
Natan, usually quiet and reserved, emanated determination."We must act together," he said quietly. "I won't let this monster destroy anyone."
Together, they finalized the plan: after dark, when the moonlight spread over the school and the pond, they would perform the purification ritual using the water collected by Sara and the protective seals from Maria's Book. Alicia would prepare the protective symbols, Natan would secure the area, and Nadia would confront the General, drawing on the strength of her recovered memories and her mother's spiritual power.
Though fear resided in their hearts, they all knew this was their only chance to reclaim control and free Leon from the dark yoke.
As night fell and the school lights dimmed, they moved into position—each step charged with tension, yet filled with hope for ultimate victory.
***
As darkness deepened and silence enveloped the area, Nadia, Alicia, Natan, and Sara gathered at the pond—the site marked by both past and magic. They carried the vessel of water collected by Sara, while Alicia spread the protective seals on the ground, meticulously recreated from Maria's Book.
Sara began a quiet whisper of prayer, calling upon the spirits of their ancestors and the light meant to purge the darkness. Alicia supplemented this with protective incantations, shielding them from the General's attacks. Natan remained vigilant, standing close to Nadia.
As the ritual reached its climax, Nadia immersed her hands in the water, which began to shimmer with cold, silver light. Images flashed in her mind—fragments of past memories as Hanna, the strength and pain that were now being transformed into power.
As her hands touched the water, the air thickened, and a shadow appeared at the edge of the pond—the General, sensing the threat, his eyes burning with fury, began hurling threats.
With determination, Sara stepped forward:"Your reign ends today. You will leave this place for eternity."
The dark shadow of the General faced them, his eyes aflame with icy fire. He paused, measuring Sara with his gaze, then let out a low, menacing hiss:"You think you can banish me so easily? I am the one who rules this place… and your daughter, Nadia."
Sara did not back down, though she felt the weight of the past pressing like a stone. She took a deep breath and raised the vessel of water, now glowing with bright light."Your rule is over. Today, we restore freedom to this place."
The General lunged, and the air swirled in an icy vortex. Natan shielded Nadia, while Alicia recited the protective chants. The water in the vessel splashed, radiating a luminous shield around them. The shadow of the General growled in fury, then vanished from the bank, though the echo of his words lingered in their ears:"This is not the end! I will return…"
Nadia felt the weight on her soul begin to lift. She looked at her mother and friends with a hope she hadn't felt in years."This is only the beginning," she said softly, a new strength igniting in her eyes.
After the General disappeared, the pond was enveloped in a silence both relieved and tense—they all knew this was only a temporary pause in the battle.
Sara, Nadia, Alicia, and Natan gathered in one of the school's abandoned rooms to discuss the next stage of the plan. Maria's Book lay open before them, holding forgotten power and rituals essential to the General's ultimate banishment.
Sara explained:"What we have is not just ancient magic. It is the power of our ancestors, their faith and sacrifice. But for it to work, we need more than spells—we need unity and courage."
Natan brought out a map of the underground passages and secret locations around the school, showing spots where energy points could enhance the ritual.
Alicia studied the book, extracting passages about talismans and protective charms they would need for the upcoming confrontation.
Nadia felt the weight of her role, but also determination. She knew she could not fail—above all, for herself and for those she loved.
Preparations continued late into the night: collecting ingredients, crafting amulets, practicing defensive spells. Every movement was deliberate, every step guided by the hope of victory.
As exhaustion settled over them, Nadia looked at her mother and friends and said:"No matter how long it takes, what matters is that we're together. This time, we have the advantage."
Sara smiled, though concern lingered in her eyes:"Remember—The General will not fight fairly."
A storm was coming, but they were ready—ready to face it head-on.