Far away from the school, deep within the shadows of the unseen world, something stirred.
Candles flickered violently in an ancient hall as dark figures slowly lifted their heads. A pulse of power rippled through the air—old, familiar, and dangerous.
"The blood has awakened," one voice hissed.
"So soon?" another growled. "Impossible."
A cracked stone symbol began to glow crimson.
"It is him," the voice said coldly. "The heir lives."
And with that realization, the hunters began to move.
Cyan stood at the edge of the village, his heart pounding.
The air here felt different—older, heavier, like the ground remembered things he didn't. The houses were built from stone and wood, worn by time. This place didn't feel welcoming.
It felt true.
Quinn, Mason, and Crayson stopped behind him as a tall man and a woman stepped out of one of the houses. Their eyes locked onto Cyan instantly.
The woman's breath caught. "It's really you…"
The man nodded slowly. "You have his eyes."
Cyan swallowed. "You're… my parents?"
The woman stepped forward, her voice trembling. "Yes. We are."
Before Cyan could respond, three figures appeared behind them—two boys and a girl, all around his age. Their expressions were sharp, distant… unfriendly.
"So this is him?" one of the boys said, crossing his arms. "The one who stayed hidden while we lived here?"
The girl scoffed. "He doesn't even look like one of us."
Cyan flinched.
"I didn't know," he said quietly. "I swear I didn't."
One of the boys rolled his eyes. "That doesn't change anything."
The man raised his hand. "Enough."
He turned to Cyan. "You were sent away to protect you. Your awakening came earlier than expected."
The woman gently touched Cyan's shoulder. "There's something you must understand."
She lowered her voice.
"Camil doesn't have to know where you are," she said firmly. "So I told your grandma to tell him you are in the village."
Cyan's eyes widened. "Camil… is dangerous?"
The man's jaw tightened. "More than you know."
The rude siblings exchanged uneasy looks but said nothing.
"You'll stay here for now," the woman continued. "This village is warded. Hidden."
Cyan looked at his siblings—at their cold stares, their resentment—and felt the weight of his bloodline settle into his chest.
He had found his family.
But family didn't mean acceptance.
Far beyond the village borders, red eyes watched the horizon.
They were coming.