*Chapter 22: The Raven at the Window*
A week after restoring the ward, subtle changes rippled through Jade Spirit Academy. The group's routines remained steady—classes, laughs, secret meetings—but whispers about strange activities after dark began to drift between students. One new voice was always at the heart of these rumors: Yan Shuren, a transfer student from the distant Iron Lotus School.
Yan moved through the halls with quiet confidence, always dressed in deep blue, her sharp eyes missing nothing. She aced magical theory, bested older students in charm duels, and—most unsettling—seemed to show up wherever the friends gathered. During group exercises, she watched Li Wei's team with obvious interest, her gaze darting to Chen Xiulan whenever the two shared a secret smile. At lunch, she casually joked about "midnight meetings and heroic deeds," making Jin Ming choke on his soup.
Yan's presence unsettled the group. Mei Fen was sure she'd seen Yan lingering near the statue garden the night of the riddle. Rui swore Yan's raven familiar watched their windows. Bao Yu tried blending in but noticed Yan's questions always cut a little too close.
One afternoon, after spellcraft class, Yan cornered Li Wei outside the greenhouse and smiled slyly. "You and your friends seem to know a lot about the wards," she said. "Maybe you'll let me in on your secret… or maybe I'll find out on my own."
As Yan strode away, Li Wei felt a chill—and a new, thrilling sense of challenge. The group huddled that night, worried but determined: if someone was onto them, they'd have to protect their secrets even as their magical battles—and friendships—grew.