Page 99 of House Ignis

He flashed me a wide grin, obnoxiously pleased with himself

"And I'm your bonded. What if someone tries to assassinate you with a flying textbook?"

By the fire-eyed gaze of Ignis, I was going to murder him. And still, his shadows slithered up my calves, curling around my thighs like smoke—protective, possessive, and incredibly inconvenient. I shifted in my seat, glaring at him from the corner of my eye.

Damn these skirts.

Professor Thandros entered, tall and angular in his usual dark robes, and moved straight to the projector. "Good morning, everyone," he said in that dry, ancient tone of his. "Today's topic: Myths and Legends of the Forgotten Realms. Specifically... the Veyari."

A few students gasped. Others muttered under their breath. Thandros clicked to the next slide, and an old, crackled illustration flickered onto the wall—dark figures with glowing eyes, crouched beside monstrous winged beasts.

"The Veyari," he began, "are said to have been an ancient race of immortal shapeshifters—beings of void and shadow. Dangerous. Elusive. Hunted to extinction." He paused for dramatic effect.

"Their magic was powerful, yes. But what made them feared—truly feared—was a combination of traits no other fae race possessed. They were faster than lightning. Stronger than steel. They could shapeshift into other people, beasts, and even hybrid forms. They had red, feline-like eyes and fangs."

Several students murmured, and my heart thudded harder.

Not just decorative fangs, either,” he went on, pacing before the class. "Fangs they used to feed. They drank blood—not because they needed it to survive, but because it enhanced their connection to magic. Especially fae blood. Especially the blood of their fated mates."

He clicked the projector again. A massive wyvern appeared on the screen, dark wings spread, smoke curling from its nostrils. "These were their boundlings. The Vel'tara. Sacred wyverns. More dragon than beast—terrifying in scale, sentient, and said to be able to take on smaller animal forms."

The projector went black.

“But all of this,” Thandros said, turning back to us, “is history. The Veyari are extinct. They vanished from the known kingdoms centuries ago. The Astral Guard has explored beyond our borders and found no evidence of a surviving population. What remains of them now are fragments of old records, legends, and bedtime stories meant to scare children and excite young minds.”

A student in the back raised a hand lazily. “So what’s the difference between an Umbra student and a Veyari?”

A few chuckled. Thandros didn't smile

“A good question. Umbra students wield shadow magic, but their magic carries a distinct violet hue. It’s why violet has been associated with House Umbra for centuries. They can teleport through shadows, cloak themselves, manipulate darkness, and bend it to their will. Useful. Impressive.”

He held up a finger.

“But the Veyari were something else entirely.”

The room quieted.

“Their magic was said to be pure black. No violet. No light. Just darkness.”

Thandros began pacing slowly between the desks.

“And perhaps their most infamous ability was shapeshifting. A Veyari could alter their appearance, take another form, become someone you trusted. The old stories claimed one could walk into your home wearing your brother’s face, and you wouldn’t know the difference until it was too late.”

A few students shifted uneasily.

“They were stronger, faster, and far more dangerous than an ordinary shadow wielder. Some records even claimed they could tear a soul from a body with nothing more than a look.”

He stopped.

“The Veyari didn’t simply wield shadows.”

His voice lowered.

“They were shadows.”

A beat of silence.

“And they were immortal.”