Aspen’s usual calm is gone, replaced with a sharp edge that I’m not used to seeing. “Lira thinks there’s more to this,” he says, glancing down the hallway as if expecting someone to appear. “But we can’t wait to find out what.”
I meet Malrik's silver eyes, then Finn's green ones. We all know what this means – what Darian's really saying between the lines.
“Thorne,” I whisper, and my shadows shudder in agreement.
“We should get to Lira,” Malrik says, already moving to gather his things. “If anyone knows how to handle corrupted shadow constructs, it’s her.”
Finn straightens, some of his usual humor bleeding away. “Nothing like a surprise death trial to start the morning. And here I thought catching you two was going to be the highlight of my day.” He grins, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. For a fleeting moment, I see the tension he’s trying to mask—theweight of everything we were walking into. My shadows swirl around us protectively as we move to follow Aspen.
“Whatever happens in that arena,” Malrik says quietly, his hand finding the small of my back, “we stay together.”
“All of us,” Finn adds, his shoulder brushing mine as we walk.
I nod, drawing strength from their presence. A trial we shouldn’t be facing, shadow constructs that shouldn’t exist, and forces we can’t yet prove are working against us. But I’ll take whatever they throw at me. I refuse to be pushed around any longer.
Chapter 67
Kaia
Professor Lira's office feels different in the early morning light—more shadows than substance, with ancient texts floating on invisible currents and strange artifacts pulsing with barely contained power. The dim light casts everything in an otherworldly glow, amplifying the tension in the room, as if the very walls are holding their breath, waiting for the trial's outcome. She looks up as we enter, her silver-streaked hair loose around her shoulders, as if she's been running her hands through it for hours.
"Close the door," she instructs, skipping pleasantries. My shadows spread out, slithering like ink across the edges of the doorframe, their movements fluid and deliberate, as if testing the space before settling into place. Her lips quirk. "Good instinct."
"Professor—" I start, but she holds up a hand.
"The trial begins in less than an hour." She moves to a shelf, pulling down a heavy tome that writhes under her touch. "Shadow constructs aren't just projections of darkness. They're semi-sentient manifestations, and in the wrong hands—"
"They can be corrupted," Malrik finishes, his voice tight.
Lira's sharp gaze fixes on him. "Yes. And corrupted shadows will seek out the strongest source of shadow magic nearby." Her eyes meet mine. "Like moths to a flame."
My hand drifts to the Heart of Eternity. "Darian's going to use them against me specifically."
Fantastic.
"I think," Lira says carefully, "that Darian may not be the one making these decisions." She opens the book, revealing diagrams of shadow constructs that move across the page like living things. "These constructs respond to whoever holds their binding. And given Darian's... situation, I suspect he's not the one holding the strings."
"Thorne," Finn says, moving closer. "But we can't prove it."
"No. Which is why you need to be prepared." She turns to me fully. "Your shadows, Kaia—they're not just extensions of your magic. They're part of you. True shadows will recognize that. Even corrupted ones will feel the pull of authentic shadow magic."
Bob straightens at this, and Patricia's shadow-notes flutter rapidly, the faint script shifting and twisting as though the shadows themselves are reacting to the conversation, capturing every vital detail.
"So what exactly are you saying?" I ask, watching a diagram show a shadow construct dissolving into mist.
"Trust your instincts in the arena. Trust your shadows." The words hang in the air like a command. I inhale deeply, feeling the weight of her trust settle into my chest, and for a brief moment, the shadows around me ripple with a silent acknowledgment. "Corrupted constructs will try to overwhelm you with force. But real shadow magic isn't about force—it's about harmony. Understanding." Her gaze flicks between all of us. "Connection."
The Heart of Eternity thrums warmly, and I feel Malrik and Finn shift closer.
"And remember this," Lira adds, closing the book with a snap. "Shadow constructs can only corrupt or consume. Your shadows?" She gestures to Bob, who stands taller. "They can create, protect, defend. That's the difference between true shadow magic and whatever twisted version you'll face."
"Just defeat corrupted shadow monsters while avoiding death and proving Darian's being manipulated?" Finn's attempt at lightness doesn't hide his tension. "Easy."
Lira's expression softens. "Watch each other's backs in there. All of you." Her knowing look lingers on the three of us. "Sometimes our greatest strength comes from unexpected connections."
As we turn to leave, she calls out once more. "Kaia?" When I look back, her expression is fierce. "Show them what real shadow magic can do."
We find Aspen and Torric waiting in the hallway. Torric paces like a caged animal while Aspen leans against the wall, his calm exterior betrayed by the tension in his shoulders.
