Chapter 6: The Headmaster’s Office
1138 Words
The silver feathers drifted through the air before fading into tiny sparks of moonlight.
Silence settled over the courtyard.
Every student…
Every professor…
Every Blood Hound…
Stared at Evelyn.
Her heart pounded in her chest.
“I… I don’t understand.”
Neither did anyone else.
The Blood Hound lowered its massive head one final time before letting out a long, mournful howl.
One by one, the creatures retreated into the darkness of Silverwood Forest.
No one chased them.
Dean Blackwood slowly lowered his sword.
“They’re leaving.”
Professor Elowen walked beside him.
“They’ve never retreated before.”
“They weren’t here to attack.”
“No.”
The dean looked directly at Evelyn.
“They came to confirm.”
⸻
One Hour Later
Hidden Moon Academy buzzed with anxious whispers.
Students crowded every hallway.
The moment Evelyn passed, conversations stopped.
“That’s her.”
“The girl with the wings.”
“I heard the Blood Hounds bowed.”
“No one survives a Blood Hound attack.”
“They called her Majesty.”
Evelyn pulled the hood of her academy sweatshirt over her head.
“This is horrible.”
Lucas appeared beside her as though he’d been there the entire time.
“You’ll get used to it.”
She sighed.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
He smiled.
“They’re right.”
“I doubt it.”
⸻
Together they climbed the winding staircase leading to the tallest tower in the castle.
“Where are we going?” Evelyn asked.
“The Headmaster’s Office.”
“I thought I’d already met the dean.”
“You have.”
“So why does he want to see me again?”
Lucas hesitated.
“He called a meeting.”
“With who?”
“You’ll see.”
That answer didn’t make her feel any better.
⸻
As they climbed the winding staircase toward the tallest tower, neither of them spoke for a while.
The academy felt different after the attack.
Students hurried through the halls in nervous groups, professors whispered behind closed doors, and every so often Evelyn caught someone glancing her way before quickly looking away.
Finally, she sighed.
“They’re all afraid of me.”
Lucas looked over at her.
“They’re afraid of what they don’t understand.”
“Which includes me.”
“For now.”
She looked down at the silver bracelet around her wrist.
“The Blood Hound called me ‘Majesty.’”
Lucas didn’t answer immediately.
When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet.
“I’ve never heard a Blood Hound bow to anyone.”
“So… that’s bad?”
“It means tonight changed everything.”
Before Evelyn could ask what he meant, they reached the top of the tower.
⸻
At the top of the tower stood two enormous silver doors.
Carved into them was the same crest that appeared on Evelyn’s bracelet.
A crescent moon.
A pair of wings.
Ancient roots wrapped around both.
The doors opened on their own.
⸻
The Headmaster’s Office was unlike any room Evelyn had ever seen.
Books floated through the air, shelving themselves.
An enchanted globe hovered above a massive wooden desk, showing tiny moving stars instead of countries.
The walls were lined with ancient weapons, portraits, and artifacts.
One wall was entirely made of glass, overlooking the academy and the endless Silverwood Forest.
Several professors were already waiting.
Professor Elowen.
A stern man with dragon scales along his jaw.
A woman with glowing violet eyes.
And Dean Blackwood.
Everyone turned toward Evelyn.
The room became uncomfortably quiet.
Dean Blackwood gestured toward an empty chair.
“Please, sit.”
She did.
Lucas remained by the door.
⸻
Dean Blackwood folded his hands.
“What happened tonight has never happened in the history of Hidden Moon Academy.”
Evelyn swallowed.
“That’s… not exactly reassuring.”
A few professors chuckled softly.
Professor Elowen smiled.
“It means you’re unique.”
“I’m starting to think unique is dangerous.”
“It often is,” Dean Blackwood admitted.
⸻
The dragon professor stepped forward.
“My name is Professor Thorne.”
He studied Evelyn carefully.
“I’ve spent two centuries studying shifters.”
He shook his head.
“You aren’t one.”
“I thought I was.”
“So did we.”
Professor Elowen spoke next.
“The shadow behind you had wings.”
Professor Thorne nodded.
“No known shifter possesses wings.”
The woman with violet eyes added quietly,
“And no known magical bloodline can command moonlight the way you did tonight.”
Evelyn looked at Dean Blackwood.
“So… what am I?”
The dean sighed.
“We don’t know.”
⸻
Silence.
Finally Evelyn laughed.
Not because anything was funny.
Because it was unbelievable.
“So let me get this straight.”
She counted on her fingers.
“I’m apparently not human.”
“No.”
“I’m apparently not a normal shifter.”
“Correct.”
“I’m apparently connected to a royal bloodline.”
“Yes.”
“And nobody knows what I actually am.”
The professors exchanged awkward glances.
“…Correct.”
Evelyn leaned back in her chair.
“Fantastic.”
⸻
Dean Blackwood reached into a locked drawer.
He removed a small velvet box.
Inside rested a silver pendant shaped like a crescent moon.
“It belonged to your mother.”
Evelyn froze.
“My…”
“She left it here.”
Her hands trembled as she accepted it.
The metal was warm.
Almost alive.
As soon as she touched it—
The pendant glowed.
The room filled with silver light.
A woman’s voice echoed softly around them.
“If you’re seeing this… then my daughter made it home.”
Evelyn’s breath caught.
“Mom?”
The light gathered in the center of the room.
Slowly taking shape.
Not a ghost.
A magical memory.
A woman with long dark hair and silver-gray eyes smiled warmly.
She looked so much like Evelyn that there could be no doubt.
“Hello, my little moon.”
Tears streamed down Evelyn’s face.
The memory smiled sadly.
“I wish I could be there to hug you.”
“I don’t have much time.”
She glanced toward Dean Blackwood.
“Thank you… for keeping your promise.”
The dean bowed his head.
“It was an honor.”
The woman looked back at Evelyn.
“There is so much I want to tell you.”
“But not yet.”
“When the time is right…”
“…follow the moon.”
The image flickered.
“I love you.”
The memory faded.
Leaving only silence.
Evelyn clutched the pendant tightly.
For the first time in twenty years…
She had heard her mother’s voice.
And now she had one more mystery to solve.
Follow the moon.
- Writer
