The storm had passed, but the winds of something darker stirred in the air.
The sun hadn't yet risen when Hope jolted awake. A chill passed through her room—no wind, no open window, but a presence. Something tugged at her heart, drawing her like a string.
Without waking London, who lay peacefully beside her on the couch, she slipped into the hallway. At the same moment, Jessa, Raphael, Celeste, Daemon, and Stephen were gathering outside the old Headmaster's wing.
Something had changed.
The door... was open.
Jessa didn't hesitate. She pushed through—and froze.
There, sitting at his desk as if no time had passed, was Richard.
Alive.
Eyes hollow with exhaustion, his white shirt stained and sleeves rolled up, a long gash wrapped in a bloodied cloth on his arm. But unmistakably, gloriously, himself.
"Dad!" Jessa gasped, rushing forward.
Richard raised a hand. "Wait—" he whispered, voice hoarse but stern.
Everyone halted.
His eyes scanned the room, lingering on each of their faces.
"You remembered," he said softly. "Good."
---
Where He Had Been
They gathered around like children who had just found their missing father.
Richard poured what little energy he had into explaining. His words were slow but loaded with weight.
"I was taken—not by anyone from this world, but pulled through a seal buried beneath this school. A gate I never knew existed, hidden centuries ago. I don't remember who cast the magic… but I saw them."
"Who?" Celeste asked breathlessly.
"Four witches," he said. "Wielders of forgotten power. They didn't kill me. They showed me."
He stood, swaying slightly, and walked to a blank piece of parchment on the wall. With his finger, he pressed into the paper and whispered something under his breath.
An image shimmered to life.
It was a colossal figure, formed of twisted metal and enchanted bones, runes etched deep into armor that shimmered even in the dark. It held a blade longer than a carriage, and its chest bore a sigil—four serpent heads devouring a sun.
They stared at it in stunned silence.
"It's called..." Richard looked each of them in the eye. "Dreadmarch."
A silence settled over the room like snow.
"It was forged from Valerian steel, melted and shaped by cursed fire. Four witches—sisters—bound it together with necromantic spells, casting the souls of dying kings into its armor. It is not alive... but it breathes. And when it walks, it brings death."
Stephen scratched the back of his head. "So… just to clarify... we're totally doomed?"
Richard managed a faint smile. "Not yet. But it's coming."
"When?" Jessa asked.
"I don't know. It's dormant. But I saw signs. Cracks in the seal. And when it does rise... it won't stop until everything it sees is ash."
---
Tension and Determination
The group was silent for a long moment.
Then Hope stepped forward. "We'll stop it."
London nodded. "Together."
"We always seem to survive apocalyptic threats," Stephen said, dramatically flopping into a chair. "At this point, I'm just hoping Dreadmarch doesn't step on me by accident."
Richard gave a weak laugh. "It's not here yet. You have time. Train. Strengthen your bonds. And watch for the signs. They'll come slowly at first—rumors, tremors, vanishing wildlife, cursed symbols. But when the sky cracks… it'll be too late."
He looked directly at Celeste. "And don't trust anyone. Not even each other."
Celeste blinked. "What do you mean?"
Richard didn't answer. He simply collapsed.
---
Later That Night
Richard was moved to the infirmary, magically sealed and guarded.
Stephen stood outside with Daemon, arms crossed. "So, giant magical metal zombie knight is coming to kill us all. Good times."
Daemon raised an eyebrow. "We've survived worse."
"Have we? Have we really?" Stephen asked. "Because I don't remember 'Valyrian Doom Monster' on the school threat bingo card."
"Focus, Stephen," Daemon muttered. "We need to prepare."
Behind them, Celeste lingered, troubled by her father's warning. Her gaze drifted to Violet in the distance, smiling faintly with a book under her arm.
Something wasn't right.
But right now, they had time.
For love.
For fear.
And for the calm before the storm.