THE PUZZLE

TALENTED BUT GONE

Emily Wilson, a talented junior, good in martial arts and sports, was given a gift by her tutor in martial arts for her efforts and passion.

Emily's eyes sparkled as she unwrapped the gift from her martial arts tutor Sensei Lee.

"A beautiful silver necklace!" Emily exclaimed.

Sensei smiled. " The pendant symbolizes strength and resilience. You embody those qualities, Emily".

The necklace featured a sleek, modern design, with intricate engravings of Japanese characters.

"What do these symbols mean?" Emily asked.

Sensei's expression turned serious.

"They represent protection and courage. Wear it always Emily. Remember your strength goes beyond physical prowess."

Emily's face glowed with pride. " Thank you, Sensei. This means everything".

Emily walked with pride, this was the fifth gift she had received from her tutor Sensei Lee. She was on her way to the cafeteria to show off to her friends.

"Woow! Emily". Grace admired the necklace.

" Pretty isn't it?". Emily asked smiling.

Soon, Emily started feeling feverish. Her eyes weak.

"Are you ok?". Grace asked.

"Yeah. I will be back". Emily said.

Emily stumbled out of the cafeteria, her mind reeling. The mark on her wrist pulsed with an otherworldly energy. She rushed to the school's nurse, but the nurse's expression only deepened her unease. As she hastened to Sensei Lee's office, the corridors seemed to darken around her.

"What's happening to me?". Emily asked showing Sensei the mark.

Sensei Lee's narrowed when he saw the mark.

"Where were you when this happened?" Sensei Lee demanded.

Emily explained, her voice shaking. Sensei Lee's expression turned grim.

"This is the sign of the Shadowborn. An ancient entity thought to be myth".

Emily's eyes widened" What does it want from me?".

Sensei Lee hesitated. " You are a key to unlocking an ancient power. The Shadowborn will stop at nothing to claim you".

" But, I thought magic is fantasy, it doesn't exist". Emily said.

Sensei Lee heaved staring at her.

Suddenly, the room plunged into darkness. Emily felt the Shadowborn's presence closing in.

"Magic exists".

"Run, Emily". Sensei Lee shouted.

But it was too late. The Shadowborn's icy grip wrapped around Emily, pulling her into the abyss.

Later that day, two junior students stumbled on Emily's body. One tapped her slightly but there was no response. They both looked at each other in dismay. Her body lay lifeless. She laid still in her pool of blood. They raised her in attempt to take her to the principal.

"What happened?". Mr White asked upon the two boys and lifeless Emily's arrival to his office.

"We don't know what happened". They chorused.

"Tell this to no one. You can now go to your classes." Mr White cautioned

"Yes Sir." They both answered as they dispersed.

As the two juniors left Mr White’s office, their minds reeled with questions. What really happened to Emily? Why was Mr White so insistent on keeping it a secret?

Mr White could not get his mind from the incident. Emily looked vibrant when she was awarded. He searched the student’s file for her profile. She wasn’t a sick type. He was extremely confused.

Later that day, Betty Rails the school administrator called

“Mr. White, what do you know about Emily’s death?”

Mr White’s face remained impassive.

“Nothing. She was brought dead.”

Mrs. Betty’s gaze narrowed. “I’ve received reports of strange occurrences. Dark rituals, symbols…”

Mr White’s expression did not waver.

“Rumors, ma, students’ imaginations.”

“Keep digging,” she said finally. “I want answers.”

But Mr White knew — the truth was already buried, hidden between the shadows of Jazielly Academy…

White called on Emily's parents.

"Good morning, Wilson. Calling from Jazielly Academy. Your attention is needed tomorrow at Jazielly Academy by 9am. Come early". White informed and dropped the telephone.

Principal White was totally confused. Magic can never be taken away from Jazielly Academy.

As Principal White hung up the phone, he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was amiss. He had always know Jazielly Academy to be a prestigious institution, renowned for its academic excellence and strong discipline. But the events of the day had left him with a nagging sense of unease. He couldn't understand why Emily, a bright and talented student, had succumbed to such a mysterious and gruesome fate. The mark on her wrist, the Shadowborn's symbol, and Sensei Lee's cryptic warnings all pointed to a darker reality that lurked beneath the academy's polished surface.

Determined to uncover the truth, Principal White decided to pay a visit to Sensei Lee's office. He found the martial arts tutor packing up his belongings, his eyes sunken and his face pale.

"Sensei, what's going on?". Principal White asked, his voice firm but laced with concern. "What do you know about Emily's death?"

Sensei Lee hesitated, his wife darting around the room as if searching for an escape. "I have told you all I can, Principal. The Shadowborn is an ancient entity, one that feeds on the innocent. Emily was a key to unlocking its power"

Principal White's eyes narrowed. " And what about the mark on her wrist?"

Sensei Lee's voice dropped to a whisper. " It's a mark of ownership Principal. The Shadowborn has claimed her. And it will stop at nothing to claim others".

As Principal White left Sensei Lee's office, he couldn't help to wonder if the tutor was telling him the whole truth. He decided to dig deeper, to uncover the secrets that Jazielly Academy seemed to be hiding.

Meanwhile, the two junior students who had discovered Emily's body could not shake off the feeling that they had stumbled upon something sinister. They began to notice strange occurrences around the academy; doors creaking open by themselves, whispers in the corridors, and an eerie feeling of being watched.

As the sun set on Jazielly Academy, the shadows seemed to grow longer and darker, as if the very fabric of reality was beginning to unravel.

The next morning, Emily's parents arrived at the academy, their faces etched with grief and concern. Principal White greeted them with sober expression, his eyes avoiding theirs.

"Mr and Mrs Wilson, I am sorry for your lost. We will do everything in our power to investigate Emily's death and ensure that justice is served".

But as they sat down in his office, Principal White couldn't help but wonder if he was telling them the truth.

Was Jazielly Academy truly a place of learning, or was it a hub for dark forces that lurked in the shadows?

As the meeting drew to a close, Principal White handed Emily's parents a small package. "This is for Emily"

The package contained the silver necklace Sensei Lee had given Emily. Emily's mother gasped, her eyes welling in tears.

"This was the last gift Sensei Lee gave her". Mr White informed.

Principal White's expression remained impassive, but his mind was racing. He knew that the necklace was more than just a symbol of strength and resilience. It was a key to unlocking the secrets of Jazielly Academy, secrets that he was determined to uncover.

As Emily's parents left the academy, Principal White couldn't help but fell that he was standing at the threshold of a dark and ancient world, one that threatened to consume them all. He knew he had to act fast, to uncover the truth before it was too late. Truth caused all of this.

But as he turned to leave his office, he noticed something that made his blood run cold. On his desk,in bold letters, was a message scrawled in red ink:

"You shouldn't have dug so deep, Principal White"

The shadows seemed to close in around him, and Principal White knew that he was in grave danger. The Shadowborn was watching, waiting for it's next victim.