Shadows Through the Crack
811 Words
The attack on the courtyard had ended… but peace did not return.
Instead, whispers spread across Arcadia.
“They came through the crack.”
“There could be more.”
“There are always more,” Instructor Kai said grimly during a briefing.
Headmistress Seraphine stood before the gathered instructors. “We must assume the breach allowed multiple entities to slip inside before we sealed it.”
Principal Elowen nodded. “Search patrols begin immediately.”
—
That night…
Strange things began happening.
A suit of armor in the west corridor suddenly collapsed.
“Did anyone see that?” a student whispered.
A low growl echoed from the shadows.
In the gardens, a vine snapped violently as if something unseen moved through it.
Near the kitchens, a faceless grey creature darted past a window — too fast to identify.
Students gathered nervously in groups.
Sarah whispered, “I don’t like this.”
Mia nodded. “Me neither.”
Stella tried to lighten the mood. “Okay… if anything jumps out, I’m running.”
Wendy laughed nervously. “Same.”
Ferah muttered, “Stay alert.”
Valerina crossed her arms nearby. “Relax. If anything shows up, I’ll fry it.”
Sarah smirked. “Sure you will.”
—
Meanwhile…
In the distant training grounds, Dr Triope Drumforce stood with Alexa and Ariella.
“Focus,” he said calmly. “Power flows where intention leads.”
Alexa summoned a controlled flame.
Ariella formed a spiral of frost.
Dr Drumforce nodded approvingly. “Excellent.”
Suddenly —
A tremor shook the ground.
Alexa frowned. “Did you feel that?”
Ariella looked toward the academy. “Something’s wrong.”
A distant roar echoed.
Dr Drumforce narrowed his eyes. “Stay behind me.”
—
Back at the academy…
Creatures emerged from shadows.
Grey horrors… twisted forms… crawling across walls… slithering across the ground.
Students screamed.
“What are those things?!”
“They’re everywhere!”
One creature lunged toward a group.
Sarah shouted, “Wind barrier!”
A gust slammed into it.
Wendy summoned a surge of water.
Valerina unleashed lightning.
Stella flashed blinding light.
Mia cast illusions to distract them.
Even in fear — they fought.
A student shouted, “Call the instructors!”
—
Guardian knights rushed forward.
“Hold the line!”
Swords clashed with claws.
Creatures shrieked.
The academy became a battlefield.
—
Then —
A wave of heat and frost surged across the courtyard.
Alexa and Ariella arrived.
“Everyone fall back!” Alexa shouted.
Ariella raised her hands. “We’ve got this!”
Creatures turned toward them.
One hissed, “The daughters…”
Alexa stepped forward. “Leave them alone.”
Ariella added calmly, “You came for us — not them.”
The creatures hesitated.
A low voice echoed through them like a command.
“Bring them.”
Suddenly —
Black smoke poured into the courtyard.
Tall figures formed — shadow guards clad in shifting darkness.
Students gasped.
“What are those?!” Stella whispered.
Kai stepped forward. “Duchannes sentinels.”
One shadow guard spoke in a hollow voice. “Alexa Duchannes… Ariella Duchannes… you are summoned.”
Alexa clenched her fists. “We’re not going anywhere.”
Ariella stood beside her. “Tell her we refuse.”
Sarah whispered nervously, “Okay… this is very bad.”
Valerina muttered, “For once… I agree.”
One guard raised a hand.
Chains of shadow shot forward.
Alexa tried to summon fire — Ariella raised ice — but the shadows wrapped around them.
“Let us go!” Alexa shouted.
Tedros drew his sword. “Release them!”
He charged — striking a guard — but his blade passed through smoke.
The guard pushed him back with a wave.
Kai shouted, “Defensive formation!”
Spells flew — wind, light, lightning — but the guards advanced relentlessly.
Ariella struggled. “Alexa!”
“I’m here!” she said.
Sarah yelled, “Don’t take them!”
One guard replied coldly, “The Mother calls.”
A portal of swirling darkness opened.
Students shouted in panic.
Valerina whispered, shaken, “This can’t be happening…”
Alexa looked at everyone. “It’s okay — we’ll come back!”
Ariella nodded. “Stay safe!”
The shadows pulled them through.
The portal snapped shut.
Silence fell.
Then — as suddenly as they appeared — the remaining creatures dissolved into darkness.
Gone.
Only the echo of battle remained.
Sarah sank to her knees. “They took them…”
Wendy whispered, “We have to get them back.”
Kai clenched his jaw. “We will.”
Seraphine stepped forward, voice steady but fierce. “Arcadia does not abandon its own.”
Elowen said quietly, “Prepare. We are going to war.”
Far away…
In a realm of shifting shadows…
Two sisters arrived.
And somewhere in the darkness…
Isolde Duchannes smiled.
- Writer
