Chapter 6
1249 Words
Chapter 6 - The Traitor's Lesson
"The most dangerous enemies aren't the ones standing before you...
They're the ones smiling beside you."
The academy had survived the attack.
But it hadn't recovered.
Broken towers still stood like wounded giants against the morning sky. Workers repaired shattered bridges while students whispered among themselves, casting nervous glances at every unfamiliar face.
For the first time in Academia's history...
Fear had found a home.
Fin walked across the central courtyard, absentmindedly tracing the edge of Queen Elara's journal with her thumb.
She hadn't slept.
Not after Lyra's visit.
Not after learning she had a sister.
Not after discovering her uncle wanted her dead.
Everything she'd believed about herself had unraveled in less than a week.
"...You're going to wear a hole through that journal."
Fin looked up.
Priston stood a few feet away, hands shoved into his pockets.
His usual arrogant grin was nowhere to be found.
Instead...
He looked concerned.
"...I don't think journals work like that."
"No?"
"They're surprisingly durable."
A laugh escaped her before she could stop it.
"...That was a terrible joke."
"I know."
"It wasn't even funny."
"I wasn't trying to be."
She shook her head.
"You really are impossible."
"So I've been told."
For a moment...
The weight on her shoulders felt just a little lighter.
Combat Hall Gamma
Professor Seraphine stood before the first-year class, arms folded behind her back.
"Yesterday's attack taught you one thing."
Her eyes swept across the room.
"No barrier is perfect."
Silence.
"So today..."
She drew her sword.
"...you will learn to survive."
The room tensed.
"Pair up."
Immediately, students scattered.
Mira grabbed Leo.
Others quickly found partners.
Fin glanced around.
Only two people remained.
Her.
And Priston.
He sighed dramatically.
"Looks like you're stuck with me."
"I'd rather fight the Ravens."
"I heard that."
"I wanted you to."
He smirked.
"Good."
Training Begins
Priston tossed her a wooden sword.
She caught it awkwardly.
"First lesson."
He pointed toward her stance.
"You're holding it wrong."
"I've been doing this for three days."
"And somehow you've developed five bad habits."
"I have not."
"You have."
"I haven't."
"You absolutely have."
Fin rolled her eyes.
"Then fix them."
Priston stepped behind her.
"Move your left foot."
She did.
"No."
"What do you mean, 'no'?"
"You moved the wrong one."
"I only have two!"
"The other left."
"...I hate you."
"No, you don't."
Heat crept into Fin's cheeks.
She quickly stepped away.
"I definitely do."
From across the arena...
Mira covered her mouth.
"Oh..."
Leo looked confused.
"What?"
"They're flirting."
"They're arguing."
"Exactly."
The Lesson
Priston circled her slowly.
"Again."
Fin lunged.
He sidestepped effortlessly.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Every attack missed.
Every counter landed.
Tap.
Shoulder.
Tap.
Arm.
Tap.
Forehead.
"You died."
"For the eighth time."
Fin glared.
"You're enjoying this."
"A little."
She rushed him.
Too fast.
Too reckless.
Priston caught her wrist before she could swing.
Their faces ended up inches apart.
"You fight angry."
"I am angry."
"I noticed."
His voice had become unusually quiet.
"You think with your heart."
"And you don't?"
"I can't afford to."
For a brief second...
Neither of them moved.
Neither of them spoke.
The entire arena seemed to disappear.
Until—
"Am I interrupting something?"
Fin jumped back so quickly she nearly tripped.
Zanne stood at the entrance to the arena, holding several books.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
"I brought the combat manuals Professor Seraphine requested."
Priston folded his arms.
"Took you long enough."
"The library is large."
"So is your forehead."
"...What?"
"You walked into a bookshelf."
Zanne adjusted his glasses.
"...That happened once."
"It happened yesterday."
"I was distracted."
Priston chuckled.
Fin blinked.
"...You two know each other?"
Both boys answered at the same time.
"No."
"Unfortunately."
They exchanged a look.
Definitely not friendly.
The Restricted Wing
Later that afternoon...
Fin couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her.
Every hallway felt quieter than usual.
Students hurried past the west corridor without looking inside.
A sign hung from a silver gate.
RESTRICTED ARCHIVES
AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY
Naturally...
Fin walked closer.
"...Curiosity really is going to kill me."
"You say that every time."
She turned.
Lyra leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed.
"You've been following me."
"I've been protecting you."
"There's a difference?"
"A very expensive one."
Fin smiled despite herself.
"I still have questions."
"I know."
"Then answer one."
Lyra nodded.
"One."
"Why does everyone keep looking at me like they know something I don't?"
Lyra's smile disappeared.
"Because they do."
The Whispering Hall
She led Fin through a hidden passage behind the archives.
Ancient stone walls stretched endlessly beneath the academy.
"This tunnel..."
Fin whispered.
"...is older than the school."
"It is."
"Who built it?"
"The Starborn."
Fin stopped walking.
"...What?"
Lyra turned.
"Academia wasn't built on Starborn ruins."
"It was built to hide them."
A chill ran down Fin's spine.
"So this whole school..."
"...is standing above your family's kingdom."
Meanwhile...
Inside the History Department...
Professor Aldren quietly locked his office door.
The friendly smile he'd worn for years disappeared.
He reached beneath his desk.
Hidden there...
Was a crimson crystal.
It pulsed once.
Black mist curled around it.
A distorted voice echoed from within.
"Report."
Professor Aldren bowed his head.
"The Starborn heir is awakening faster than expected."
"And the journal?"
"She has it."
A pause.
"Good."
Professor Aldren frowned.
"...Good?"
"We want her to read it."
"...Why?"
The voice laughed.
A cold, unsettling sound.
"Because every answer she finds..."
"...brings her one step closer to the truth."
"And once she learns the whole truth..."
"...she'll never trust the Academy again."
The crystal went dark.
Professor Aldren looked toward the window overlooking the campus.
His expression unreadable.
"I'm sorry..."
"...but this war was decided long before you were born, Princess."
Evening
The academy held a memorial for those injured in the attack.
Hundreds of floating lanterns drifted into the sky.
Students stood together in silence.
For the first time...
No one cared which family another student came from.
No one cared who was stronger.
Everyone simply watched the lanterns rise.
Fin stood beside Mira.
Beside Zanne.
Beside Priston.
She glanced at them.
"...Thank you."
Mira smiled.
"For what?"
"For staying."
Priston shrugged.
"Didn't have anywhere else to be."
Zanne looked at the lanterns.
"You would've done the same."
Fin smiled softly.
Maybe...
Just maybe...
She wasn't alone anymore.
As the final lantern disappeared into the clouds...
A single silver feather drifted from the sky.
It landed gently in Fin's palm.
No one else seemed to notice.
The feather dissolved into light.
And one sentence echoed inside her mind.
"The Crown has chosen its Queen."
Fin's eyes widened.
Before she could tell anyone—
Every lantern in the sky suddenly went out.
Darkness swallowed the academy.
Then...
A deep horn echoed across the mountains.
BWOOOOOOOM.
Professor Seraphine's face turned pale.
"The northern gate..."
Another horn answered.
Closer this time.
BWOOOOOOOM.
The Headmaster's voice thundered through the academy.
"ALL STUDENTS TO THE GRAND HALL!"
"THIS IS NOT A DRILL!"
From the watchtower, a guard screamed loud enough for the entire academy to hear.
"THE SHADOW LEGION IS HERE!"
Beyond the academy walls...
Thousands of torches ignited at once.
An army stretched across the horizon.
At its center rode a lone figure in black armor, carrying a spear that shimmered with crimson lightning.
As he removed his helmet, moonlight revealed piercing silver eyes—eyes startlingly similar to Fin's.
He smiled.
"Little niece..."
"It's time to come home."
- Writer
