THE EIGHT

Darian 's POV “Hey diary ,” I really don't know where to begin. I always had something to write, but I am blank now. Well, let's start with: Happy birthday to me. I am not excited about it, really. It's just a normal routine of my mum calling me to wish me happy birthday, and then everything goes dull and mundane again. Although, this morning, I woke up to an empty house. I wonder where uptight Uncle Elias is. He's always in my business. I thought Uncle Elias was fun. At least, that's what my friends at school tell me. They see his fun and carefree side. I don't. He's always so protective of me. Sometimes, it's almost painful. The other day, there was a power shortage, and I lit a candle. Although, I was sure I didn't even use a lighter. He screamed at me to stay away from the candle. For some reason, I couldn't understand why he was so scared. Maybe it was just another one of his weird rules. Although, if I'm being honest, there have been a few things about my life that never seemed completely normal. I just never thought much about them. It seems Uncle Elias is back. I have to see what he got for me this time. This is my entry for today. Happy birthday to me once more. Happy sixteen. I ran downstairs and jumped off the last stair, straight into my uncle's arms. “Elias! Where did you go? You didn't wake me up!” He laughed. “I had to run an urgent errand, but I'm here now, aren't I?” I smiled. “I can't see my gift anywhere.” He looked around. Immediately, his facial expression dropped. He put me down. “I... I have to tell you something.” “Did someone die?” I replied jokingly. He looked at me exhaustedly. “Seriously?” I followed him into the sitting room. He sat down, and I stood there, waiting. Then he said something that completely ruined my birthday. “We're travelling tonight.” I stared at him. “To where?” He didn't answer immediately. “And then what about school?” I asked. “I can't just wake up and travel in the middle of the term.” He sighed. “We're going to see your mum.” “Let me rephrase that,” he continued. “We're going to stay with your mum.” I stared at him. “And about school, don't worry. You've been transferred to an academy close to your mother.” Before I could say anything, he reached into the back pocket of his trousers and pulled out a letter. He dropped it onto my lap. “Happy birthday, Darian.” Then he stood up and left. I stared at the letter, wishing it could disappear. With bold, gold, wavy letters, the name of the school was written across the front: EVERNIGHT ACADEMY “I have lived here all my life,” I thought sadly. “I can just pack up and go away? My friends...” I looked at the envelope again. “For a high school? It looks so prestigious and complicated.” I frowned. “Huh?” I opened the letter and read it aloud. EVERNIGHT ACADEMY Dear Darian Blackwood, We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted for admission to Evernight Academy for the upcoming academic year. As you will be turning sixteen this year, your enrollment will begin with our traditional Awakening Ceremony, which all new students are required to attend. Your first term will include courses in Elemental Studies, History, Combat Training, Shifting, Magical Theory, and other foundational subjects. You are expected to arrive at the academy on September 3rd. Your appointed guardian will accompany you and assist with your arrival. A complete list of required materials, school regulations, and your accommodation details will be provided upon arrival. We look forward to welcoming you to Evernight Academy. Sincerely, Elisara Vale Headmistress, Evernight Academy I closed the letter. “Did I read that correctly?” I asked myself. Combat training? Am I training for the military? Shifting? That's crazy. Shift into what? Maybe it means dressing or manners. I thought out loud. “The most absurd thing in this letter is the date.” I looked at the calendar. “Today is the 2nd of September. I'm supposed to travel and resume at a new school tomorrow!” I said it angrily. “Where is even this ELARION ? , I haven't come across that state before. Maybe it's in a different continent.” I shook my head. I slowly walked up to my room, already dreading the move and the change in scenery. I'm not a big fan of change. Although I wanted a twist in my routine, I didn't mean this. Now my mum was making me change my entire life. I dropped onto my bed. “I am really exhausted. I should better start packing.” I looked around my room. “I don't want to leave any memories behind.” I pulled my suitcase from underneath my bed. Then I smiled sadly. “Goodbye, old me.” And I began to pack. Kael's POV Aggressively going through the admission list, I was preparing my mental health for the new academic year and also looking out for possible troublemakers. New students always meant new problems. I ran my finger down the list, scanning each name carefully. Then I stopped. Darian Blackwood. The moment I read the name, I felt a chill run through my bones and a static energy in the air. It was as if the school was whispering a secret to me, but I couldn't understand it. I turned in my seat, suddenly alert, and felt a presence behind me. Immediately, the light bulbs flickered, as if the room were possessed. I became tense, stood up, and cautiously left my office. Walking along the corridor, I met the Headmistress. She had a concerned expression on her face. “You felt that too?” she asked. “Yes,” I replied. I looked at her, still trying to understand what had just happened. “Is he a threat?” I asked. She remained silent for a moment before answering. “We wouldn’t know until he arrives, but we should be wary of the signs. We don’t want any harm to draw near to the children under our care.” She looked back toward my office. “Keep a lookout for him tomorrow. He is directly under your care. Observe him and get back to me.” Saying this, she excused herself. “I’m supposed to avoid trouble,” I said, trying to diffuse the tension. She looked back at me with a knowing smile. “Well, trouble loves you.” I gave her a coy smile. “What can I say? We have history.” She shook her head and walked away. I stood there for a moment, watching her leave. Then my eyes drifted back toward the admission list. Darian Blackwood. Just a name. Yet somehow, the entire Academy had reacted to it. And tomorrow, I would finally meet the boy behind it. Ravenna's POV I was running. My legs felt heavy as I pushed through the darkness, my heart pounding as I tried to get away from the creature behind me. I had been having these dreams for months. They were always different, yet somehow always the same. I would find myself running, chased by a creature I could never fully see. And somewhere ahead of me, there was always a figure. But I never got to see it. The creature always reached me first. Every time, I would feel it getting closer until it caught me, and then I would die. I would wake up screaming. But tonight was different. I kept running, and for the first time, I could see the figure ahead of me. It was a boy. I couldn't see his face clearly, but I could make out his form. The creature was getting closer, but the boy was closer too. Then he stretched out his hand toward me. A helping hand. It felt like rescue. Like salvation. I reached for it. For the first time, I was close enough to touch him. My fingers met his hand. And then I woke up. I sat upright, expecting the scream that usually followed. But there was none. I was breathing heavily, confused by the strange calm that had settled over me. I suddenly felt the urge to write something down. I reached for my book and pen. My hand moved almost on its own. I wrote DARIAN I stared at the name. I didn't know where it came from. I had never heard the name before. Then another thought came to me, and I wrote beneath it: THE RISE OF THE PHOENIX. I paused, staring at the words. What did they mean? I didn't know. I looked at the clock. 2:00 a.m. “I need to sleep. I have a long day ahead of me.” I placed the book beside me and lay back down. But sleep wouldn't come. My mind kept playing over the dream—the figure, his outstretched hand, and the strange words I had written. Most of all, it kept returning to one name. Darian.