The night was quiet.

Too quiet.

A crisp breeze swept through the academy grounds, rustling the leaves and sending a chill through the air. Inside the dorm, the warmth of Evie's dreamcatcher glowed faintly beside her bed as she slept, its magic pulsing in steady waves. The princes had finally managed to convince themselves to get some rest as well, though each of them slept lightly, their instincts always on alert.

But peace never lasted long.

A sudden explosion shattered the silence.

The walls trembled. Windows rattled. A shockwave rippled through the academy, powerful enough to jolt Evie awake.

Her heart pounded as the air around her thickened with energy—but it wasn't hers. This power was foreign, dark, and suffocating.

Something was terribly wrong.

The moment she sat up, her door slammed open.

"Evie!" Seth burst in, his crimson eyes ablaze with urgency. He wasn't even wearing a shirt, only sweatpants, his toned chest rising and falling rapidly. "Get up—now."

Before she could ask what was happening, another explosion erupted in the distance, shaking the entire building.

Then came the screams.

Evie threw off the blankets just as Duke appeared at the doorway, his golden eyes flashing dangerously. "Angel, we don't have time—"

Another boom. This time, the sound of shattering glass echoed down the halls.

The academy was under attack. ____________________________ The moment they stepped outside, chaos consumed the academy.

Dark, twisted creatures with glowing red eyes crawled from the shadows, their forms shifting between solid and smoke. The students fought desperately, some casting flames, others wielding water, wind, or stone. The professors barked orders, their magic lashing out in deadly strikes.

And standing at the center of it all, watching with sick amusement, was Alaric.

His long, silver hair gleamed under the moonlight, his violet eyes glowing with power and malice.

"Found you," he purred.

Evie's blood turned to ice.

His gaze locked onto her, hungry, as if he had been waiting for this moment.

Before she could react, Duke growled, stepping protectively in front of her. "You bastard."

Alaric smirked. "Now, now, is that any way to greet an old friend?"

Seth was already moving, flames igniting in his palms. "Shut up and fight me."

Alaric didn't flinch. If anything, he looked bored. "Oh, please. If I wanted to kill you, I would've done it already."

Then he tilted his head and smirked. "I'm only here for her."

The moment he said it, a dark force lunged toward Evie.

Duke yanked her back just in time, a golden barrier flaring up in front of them. The shadowy attack collided with his magic, sending out a shockwave that cracked the pavement beneath their feet.

Rowan's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. "Evie, stay behind us."

Sol's usual gentle expression was grim as he called upon the earth, vines rising to block the creatures from advancing. "This isn't just an attack," he muttered. "He's targeting you."

Evie clenched her fists.

Of course, he was.

Alaric's gaze flickered over to Rowan and the others, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Look at you all. Protecting her so fiercely. But do you even know what you're protecting?"

Something about his tone made Evie's stomach turn.

Before she could respond, Alaric lifted a hand, and the ground trembled.

More creatures swarmed the battlefield, their howls piercing the night.

And then, all at once—they attacked.

Everything happened at once.

Duke and Rowan fought side by side, their magic weaving together in an effortless dance. Rowan's wind lashed out in deadly currents, sending enemies flying, while Duke's golden shields blocked incoming strikes, keeping Evie protected.

Sol, normally so calm and collected, fought with a ferocity she had never seen before. The ground split apart beneath his enemies, jagged spikes of earth impaling anything in his path.

Seth was pure fire and rage, his body moving in a blur as flames engulfed his enemies. "Evie, get back!" he shouted, slicing his hand through the air—sending a blazing inferno straight at the creatures.

Evie wasn't one to be sidelined.

The moment a shadowy figure lunged toward her, she reacted on instinct.

Wind, fire, water, earth—all at once.

The air around her crackled, her power exploding in a violet haze. The creature barely had time to react before it was torn apart, its form dissolving into nothingness.

For a brief moment, silence.

Then Alaric let out a low, amused chuckle. "Ah," he murmured, watching her. "There it is."

Evie's breath came fast and shallow.

That look in his eyes—it was the same look he had given her during the trials.

Like she was exactly what he expected.

Then, before she could blink, he was in front of her.

His speed was inhuman.

Evie barely managed to summon a barrier before his attack collided against hers.

The force of it sent her skidding back, her boots digging into the dirt.

"Impressive," Alaric mused, tilting his head. "But not enough."

His dark energy surged forward, slamming against her defenses. Evie gritted her teeth, forcing more magic into her barrier, but she could feel it slipping—feel the darkness coiling around her, trying to sink in.

Alaric's voice dropped to a whisper.

"You'll never be able to control it."

Evie's eyes widened.

And in that split second of distraction, he struck.

A sharp pain sliced through her side, and she gasped, staggering back.

"Evie!"

She barely registered the shouts as she collapsed to one knee, clutching her ribs.

Blood.

Warm and sticky against her fingertips.

Alaric crouched before her, his violet eyes gleaming. "You feel it, don't you?" His voice was soft, almost gentle. "The power inside you. It's not just elemental magic. It's something else."

Evie's vision blurred.

She tried to summon her power—to fight back—but it felt wrong.

Like something deep within her was shifting. Changing.

Alaric leaned in closer.

And then, he whispered the words that made her blood run cold.

"There is another like you."

Evie's breath hitched.

Another?

Before she could ask—before she could even process the meaning behind his words—Alaric stepped back.

A dark portal swirled to life behind him.

"Until next time, little anomaly."

And then, with a cruel smirk, he vanished into the shadows.

Aftermath The moment Alaric disappeared, the remaining creatures collapsed into nothingness, their forms dissolving into the air.

The battle was over.

But at what cost?

Evie still knelt on the ground, her body trembling.

She barely noticed when strong arms lifted her up—barely registered the frantic voices calling her name.

All she could hear was the echo of Alaric's words.

There is another like you.

What did that mean?

Who else was out there?

And more importantly...

Were they friend?

Or foe? ______________________________