The hidden doorway groaned as ancient stone scraped against stone.
Cold air poured into the archive.
Not the chill of winter…
The chill of something that hadn’t been disturbed for centuries.
Evelyn stared into the darkness beyond the staircase.
The silver bracelet on her wrist pulsed once.
Then again.
Professor Elowen tightened her grip on Evelyn’s arm.
“We’re leaving.”
“But—”
“Now.”
The candles flickered violently.
Books flew from the shelves, their pages turning on their own.
Portraits along the walls whispered in voices too faint to understand.
The academy itself seemed to be holding its breath.
⸻
Professor Elowen led Evelyn into the hallway and shut the archive door behind them.
The rumbling stopped.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Finally, Evelyn broke the
