The academy felt different that morning.After the night of the Vault's awakening, the corridors hummed with whispers — not just from students, but from the walls themselves.The wind carried voices.
"Six hearts awakened…""One yet sleeps…"
The whispers came and went like sighs, vanishing when anyone tried to listen too closely.
Lumi trotted beside Lyra, glowing faintly gold, while Eira Wynn's companion Frost hopped gracefully onto her shoulder, its tiny wings flicking in rhythm.Draven walked a little behind, always alert — his eyes scanning the shadows that pooled unnaturally in the corners.
The Storm Begins
They were in the Academy's lower courtyard — an ancient place built from lightstone and marble, now cracked by age.The wind that usually danced softly through the open arches now blew wild, carrying a strange whispering sound.
Riven Kael frowned.
Riven: "The weather wards aren't active… it's like the wind itself is angry."
The next moment, the ground trembled — and a dark mist rolled out from the east tower.From inside it, the shadow returned.
But this time, it spoke.
"You shouldn't have broken the seal… children of color."
Its voice was a chorus — hundreds speaking as one, echoing through bone and mind.
Lumi flared bright, Frost's wings spread with a hiss of cold air.Draven stepped forward, sword drawn, runes flaring along the edge.
Draven: "We're done running."Lyra: "Together, then."
They attacked — light, frost, storm, flame, and shadow colliding with the creature's dark tendrils.Every blow broke into mist; every spark of light was swallowed again.
Seren and the Fall
Seren Vale tried to channel her magic — the air around her stuttering, time itself hesitating — but the shadow lashed back.A violent gust knocked her off her feet, sending her tumbling toward the balcony's edge.
Lyra: "Seren!"
She barely caught the railing — her hand slipping on the stone. Below, the courtyard's mist swirled into a vortex of darkness.
Frost fluttered helplessly nearby, icy breath frosting the air.
Seren: "Go! You can't help me—"
But the creature lunged — claws of shadow reaching down —
And then—
A flash.
A soft, silvery-blue light burst around Seren's hand.From the rushing wind, a shape emerged — small, glowing, alive.
The Arrival of Zephyr
A tiny fox-like creature landed on the railing beside her, eyes bright like twin moons.Its fur shimmered in waves of starlight silver; faint feathered wings spread across its back, scattering ripples of frozen air.
The creature tilted its head — and then howled.
Not loud — but absolute.
A temporal echo sliced through the courtyard.
The dark vortex shattered.Wind surged upward, forming a spiraling barrier of shimmering light around Seren.
Draven (awed): "A Time familiar…"Lyra: "So it chose her."
Zephyr looked at Seren once — eyes ancient and knowing — before leaping into the air.Wings of wind unfurled, glowing brighter, pulling her safely back onto solid ground.
The moment Seren's feet touched the floor, the creature perched on her shoulder, curling around her neck like a living whisper.
Frost chirped in approval.Lumi wagged her tail.Even the storm hesitated.
The Whisper of Names
As the battle ended, a strange quiet fell.The mist cleared — but something lingered.
A soft echo brushed through the courtyard, touching each of their minds.
"Lyra Solen.""Draven Veyl.""Seren Cale.""Eira Wynn.""Riven Kael.""Nyra Voss."
Each name spoken by a voice they couldn't see — gentle, yet ancient.
Then — softer.
"…and the Seventh waits."
The wind stopped.
Lumi's fur dimmed slightly.Frost froze mid-step.Zephyr's wings folded close — as if it recognized the name.
But none of them knew from where.
From the far archway, robes stirring in the settling air, Headmistress Veyra Lys appeared — eyes glowing faint gold.
Headmistress Veyra:"You've awakened something far older than this academy…""And now, it is aware of you."
Her gaze lingered on Zephyr — then Lumi and Frost.
"Keep them close. You will need them."
And as the six students looked at one another — light, frost, storm, flame, time, and shadow stirring faintly between them —they understood the truth at last.
This was no longer just an academy.
It was a threshold.