The First Omen
938 Words
At the Richardson home, the evening felt heavier than usual.
Seylah leaned forward at the table, watching her parents carefully.
“Mum… Dad,” she said slowly, “tell us the truth about Alexa.”
Tyler nodded eagerly. “Yeah… something’s different.”
Daniel and Olivia exchanged a glance.
“At first,” Olivia said gently, “there’s nothing to worry about.”
Seylah shook her head. “No. I already knew something was off.”
Daniel raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
Seylah crossed her arms. “People have different hair… but Alexa always covered hers with a wig. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to upset her… but I knew she was different.”
Olivia sighed softly.
“It’s time,” she said.
Tyler leaned forward. “Time for what?”
Olivia spoke carefully. “Alexa has a twin sister.”
Tyler blinked. “A twin?”
Daniel nodded. “And… Alexa is not our biological daughter.”
Seylah listened quietly.
Olivia continued, “We took her in to protect her… and to protect others.”
“From who?” Tyler asked.
Daniel said gravely, “From her birth mother — Isolde Duchannes.”
Seylah’s eyes widened slightly. “The powerful one?”
Olivia nodded. “She seeks to raise a powerful dark force — to gather power through her daughters.”
Tyler frowned. “That sounds scary.”
Daniel sighed. “We don’t fully know what she intends… but we know it threatens the magical world.”
Seylah sat back — then said firmly, “Alexa is still my sister.”
Olivia smiled softly.
“And if Alexa is my sister,” Seylah added, “then Ariella is too.”
Tyler grinned. “Yeah. We have two sisters now.”
Daniel laughed quietly. “That’s one way to see it.”
Olivia reached across the table. “Family is not just blood.”
—
Back at Arcadia…
Night fell across the academy.
Lanterns glowed softly as students gathered outside for a night celebration.
Music drifted through the air.
“Finally — something fun,” Stella said, grabbing a drink.
Mia laughed. “You say that every time.”
Sarah smiled. “We deserve a break.”
Wendy nodded. “Training has been intense.”
Nearby, Valerina approached with her usual confident stride.
“Tell Alexa,” she said coolly to Sarah and Wendy, “that I’m coming for her.”
Sarah raised an eyebrow. “You can tell her yourself.”
Wendy laughed lightly. “Yeah — we’re not your messengers.”
Valerina’s expression darkened. “Her mother is a villain — and they’re letting both of them stay here.”
Sarah crossed her arms. “Point of correction — the other one is Ariella.”
Valerina scoffed. “I don’t care.”
Suddenly—
A low, unnatural sound echoed nearby.
Sarah frowned. “Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?” Valerina snapped.
Wendy whispered, “No… I hear it too.”
They stood under a large tree.
Slowly… they looked up.
A creature clung to the branches.
Grey… faceless… limbs twisting unnaturally like an octopus. Its mouth opened wide, filled with shifting darkness.
It moved with terrifying speed.
The creature roared.
They screamed and jumped back.
It lunged toward Valerina.
“Move!” Sarah shouted.
She thrust her hands forward — a powerful gust slammed into the creature, knocking it to the ground.
Valerina stared, shaken. “…Thank you.”
Sarah nodded. “You’re welcome.”
Wendy whispered, “What is that?”
Valerina said quietly, “I’ve read about these… they serve Duchannes.”
Sarah’s stomach dropped. “How did it get inside?”
“Through the crack,” Valerina said. “It’s been here… waiting.”
Sarah asked, “Waiting for who?”
Valerina looked at her. “Your best friend… and her twin.”
Wendy whispered, “Alexa…”
The creature growled — rising again.
Valerina stepped back. “Why is it standing again?!”
Sarah said nervously, “Maybe you should ask it.”
The creature surged forward with incredible speed.
It struck.
Sarah was thrown into the tree.
Wendy hit the ground hard.
Valerina stumbled backward as a tendril-like limb whipped toward her.
“Fight!” Sarah shouted.
She summoned wind — pushing against it.
Wendy formed water whips.
Valerina unleashed lightning.
The creature dodged unnaturally — striking back with brutal force.
They were overwhelmed.
Then suddenly —
It dashed past them… heading toward the party.
—
Students froze as it appeared.
“What is that?!”
The creature attacked — throwing students aside as it searched.
“Where is she…” it hissed in a distorted voice.
Guardian trainees rushed forward.
“Hold formation!” one shouted.
They attacked — swords clashing — but the creature overpowered them.
Then—
Tedros stepped forward, drawing his enchanted blade.
“Stand back,” he said calmly.
He lunged — striking.
The creature countered.
They exchanged blows — magic and steel clashing.
Finally, Tedros raised his sword, channeling energy.
“For Arcadia!”
He drove the blade through the creature’s chest.
It shrieked — exploding into dark dust.
Silence fell.
Moments later, Sarah, Wendy, and Valerina rushed in — bruised but standing.
From the other side, Alexa’s roommates arrived.
Then came the instructors.
Headmistress Seraphine and Principal Elowen stepped forward, surveying the scene.
Seraphine spoke quietly, “It has begun.”
Elowen nodded gravely. “The first breach.”
Students stood shaken — realizing the danger was no longer distant.
Somewhere beyond the barrier…
Something had sent a message.
And Arcadia had heard it.
- Writer
