The next day, the dining hall buzzed with energy as students piled in for lunch, voices merging into an ongoing hum of conversations, laughter, and clattering trays.


    At one of the long tables, Hope sat in her usual spot with Daisy and Sierra. And as usual, a few seats down were Chase, Bella, Gabby, Drew, and Hunter.


    As always, their conversations bounced between casual chatter, snide remarks, and thinly veiled insults.


    Hope poked at her food, bored. “I miss the food back home.” She dropped her fork, examining the meat on her plate. “We should get a forensic team in here.”


    Drew, halfway through stuffing a bite into his mouth, shrugged. “Tastes fine to me.”


    Hunter leaned back in his chair. Your standards are on the floor.”


    Bella rolled her eyes. “At least he has standards, Hunter.”


    Gabby looked down. Was her face turning red?


    Hope looked over at the two, confused. “Am I missing something here?”


    Chase, arms crossed, butted in. “Whatever. I’m still waiting for your big speech after yesterday’s little miracle.”


    Hope looked smug. “I’m still working on the rough draft.”


    Chase laughed under his breath. “Can’t wait.”


    Bella leaned forward “I’m so over it. Why does she keep sitting by us? For the love of god, can we please talk about something other than Hope?”


    Drew smirked. “Yeah, good luck with that.”


    Hope rolled her eyes, preparing a comeback—


    When someone tapped her shoulder.


    Hope turned, blinking in surprise.


    Standing behind her was a guy she didn’t recognize.


    Tall and charming. Dirty blonde hair, and warm hazel eyes. He had a confident but easygoing air.


    Hope’s stomach did a tiny, unexpected flip.


    Jake, grinning, tilted his head slightly. “Hey, Hope, right?”


    Hope, caught slightly off guard, nodded. “Uh… yeah?”


    Jake smiled wider. “I thought so. I’ve been seeing you around school lately.”


    Bella rolled her eyes. “Here we go.”


    Chase’s expression shifted slightly, jaw tightening.


    Jake, ignoring them, continued smoothly. “Me and some of my friends were actually talking about you earlier. We wanna get to know you.”


    Hope tilted her head. “Oh?”


    Jake, charming as ever, gestured across the dining hall. “Come sit with us. Just for a bit.”


    Daisy grinned at Hope, and raised her eyebrows a couple times. “Have fun, bitch.”


    Sierra gave Hope a dry look. “Do whatever you want.”


    Jake chuckled, completely unbothered. “You’ll like us. Promise.”


    Hope, fighting back a tiny smile, shrugged. “Why not?”


    Hope stood up, a little too fast.


    Chase, leaning back in his chair, spoke before he could stop himself. “You sure about this?”


    Hope turned back briefly. “Why do you care?”


    Chase hesitated. He didn’t care.  Except… maybe he did.


    Bella scooted a bit closer to Chase. “That’s a good question.” She sneakily gave Hope a dirty glare.


    Hope rolled her eyes and walked off with Jake.


    Jake led Hope to a small table near the back of the dining hall.


    Two other people sat waiting—a strikingly pretty girl with a mysterious essence and an intense, almost unsettling smile. Next to her, a tall, dark-haired guy with sharp, unreadable eyes has his arm around her.


    Jake gestured smoothly. “Hope, meet Savannah and Aaron.”


    Savannah smiled warmly. “Hi, Hope. I hope this isn’t weird to say, but I couldn’t wait to meet you.”


    Hope raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”


    Aaron, leaning back lazily, studied her with an unreadable expression. “You’re kinda… fascinating.”


    Hope tilted her head. “Is that a compliment?”


    Savannah giggled. “Yup.”


    Hope immediately thought of how pretty her smile was. She reminded her of those girls in high school that looked like they’d be mean, but were actually some of the nicest girls ever.


    Jake, grinning, slid into the seat next to Hope. “I wanna know more about you.”


    Hope had a little bit of a weird feeling, but Jake’s charming smile made it easy to ignore.


    And just like that—she sat down.


    Jake leaned in with that effortless, easygoing grin of his. “Before you get too comfortable, we wanna show you something.”


    Hope arched a brow. “Yeah?”


    Aaron smirked. “It’s a secret spot. You’ll like it.”


    Savannah’s beamed with excitement. “Trust me, it’s worth it.”


    Hope hesitated for half a second before shrugging. “Why not?”


    Jake smiled. “Atta girl.”


    They finished up quickly and slipped out of the dining hall’s tall exit doors, weaving through the campus pathways. The sun was a bit lower in the sky now, and started to cast golden light across the campus. Hope had to admit, it was beautiful.


    The walk started off easy—smooth stone paths winding around elegant rivers—but as they veered off the main grounds, it turned into a real hike. The terrain shifted beneath Hope’s feet, dirt and stone replacing pavement.


    It felt like they had been walking for too long. Then suddenly, they were at the footsteps of what must have been the longest staircase in the world.


    Low-hanging, weeping trees framed the path, dawning flowers of violet. The air smelled fresh, clean, alive.


    Hope slowed for a moment, taking it all in. It was different from Earth. More vivid. More alive.


    in  They began their ascent up the never-ending staircase.


    “You good back there?” Jake called over his shoulder, glancing at her with amusement.


    Hope shook herself from her thoughts. “Yeah, just… looking.”


    Savannah smiled. “It’s easy to get lost in it, huh?”


    Hope nodded. She had never seen anything like this before. The way the trees whispered in the breeze, the way the light caught on the edges of the temple rooftops in the distance—it felt like stepping into a painting.


    Aaron gestured ahead. “We’re almost there.”


    As they climbed higher, the trees began to thin, revealing a breathtaking view of Haven sprawling below them. Further in the distance, the city stretched out, tucked behind rolling hills and sparkling lakes, the buildings looking almost unreal in the golden hour sunlight.


    Then, finally, they reached it.


    The red pagoda tower.


    Perched at the cliff’s edge, it stood against the sky like something out of a dream.


    Hope exhaled slowly. It was incredible.


    Jake grinned at her reaction. “Told you it was worth it.”


    The air was crisp as the group sat on the ledge of the red pagoda, overlooking Haven. The sky was painted in soft shades of orange and pink, the sun just beginning to dip below the horizon. From up here, the entire campus looked like a different world—one that stretched far beyond its towering walls. Hope had never seen anything like this before.


    She took a slow breath, letting the peace of the moment settle in.


    “This place is incredible,” she murmured.


    Aaron leaned back on his elbows, looking out at the landscape. “I found it years ago,” he admitted. “Needed a place to get away from everything. No one ever really comes up here.”


    Jake plopped down on the ground, stretching his legs out. “Crazy, right? The view makes you think.”


    Aaron stared out over the hills. “Makes me wonder what life could be like if you didn’t have to do all the things you’re forced to.”


    Savannah hummed, resting her chin in her hand. “If you could do whatever you wanted. No rules. No expectations. Just… freedom. I know that’s all you want too.” She looked directly at Aaron.


    The words lingered in the air, carrying something heavier beneath them.


    Hope looked puzzled. “Am I missing something?”


    Aaron placed his hand on the back of his head, and roughed up his hair. “My parents sent me to Haven so I could become a doctor. Good future, stability, all that crap. But what I really wanted was to be an archaeologist. I wanted to discover things. Instead, I’m stuck here, learning about things I don’t care about.” He glanced at the tower. “Finding places like this is my vice.”


    Savannah turned to him with a soft smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “All I ever wanted was love,” she admitted, nudging Aaron playfully.


    He smirked. “And you got it.”


    She laughed, but then her expression grew thoughtful. “But… I don’t know. Sometimes, I wonder if I’ve really lived. I’ve spent my whole life here—haven’t seen much of the world outside the institute, except for trips with my parents. I watch people get stuck here. And I don’t want that to be me.” Her voice softened. “I just wish I had more time. More experiences. More memories.”


    The group looked over to Jake next, all wondering the same thing:


    What did he really want?


    Jake, usually the most carefree of them all, didn’t hesitate to share. “I miss my brother.” His voice lacked its usual easygoing tone.


    “He was a city planner. Got relocated far away to help develop a new city, and just like that… he was gone.” His fingers tapped against his knee. “I wish there was a way to see him more. To talk to him. It’s like we don’t even exist to each other at this point.”


    A heavy silence settled between them.


    Then, Savannah turned to Hope. “What about you? What would you wish for?”


    Hope hesitated, fingers tightening around her sleeves. She almost said nothing.


    But she could still see Hana’s face—her desperate cries—the moment she lost herself completely.


    She swallowed hard. “Ever since I saved that girl the other day… I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. It wasn’t easy. I barely made it out, and I keep wondering when the next one is going to pop up.”


    They were fully listening now.


    “I was taken from my normal life and dropped right in the middle of this mess,” Hope admitted, her voice quieter now. “I just… I wish there was peace. Between humans and spirits. I wish corruption wasn’t a thing.  But…” She let out a shaky breath. “I don’t want to be the only one responsible if it happens again. It’s too much.”


    A beat of silence.


    Then Jake grinned, throwing an arm around her shoulder. “Damn, Hope. That’s a hell of a wish.”


    Savannah smiled knowingly. “Maybe one day we can change things.”


    Aaron nodded, his gaze lingering on her. “Maybe we don’t have to just wish.”


    Hope wasn’t sure what he meant by that. But it was nice to finally open up about how she’s been feeling lately.


    All of the sudden, Hope glanced around, a strange feeling creeping in. Familiarity.


    Her fingers traced the smooth wooden railing. “I feel like…” she hesitated. “Like I’ve been here before.”


    Jake smirked. “Déjà vu?”


    “No, it’s different,” she said, standing up. Her feet carried her further past the pagoda, where something caught her eye—an old stone statue partially hidden behind the structure. As she stepped closer, the details came into view.


    A dragon.


    It was carved from stone, its features worn from age but still regal, still powerful. Hope’s chest tightened at the sight.


    Savannah appeared at her side, tilting her head. “That’s interesting,” she mused. “In mythology, dragons were seen as guardians—they protected humans from harm.”


    For some reason, Hope’s stomach flipped.


    Jake put a hand on Hope’s back. “Kinda like you.”


    Hope turned to him, confused. “What do you mean?”


    Jake grinned. “You know. How you saved that spirit the other day. Maybe you were a dragon in your past life.”


    Savannah giggled. “Or maybe she’s meant to be one now.”


    Hope didn’t laugh. Something about this felt… important. Like a sign.


    Aaron, still watching the sky, broke the moment. “We should hang out again. Later.”


    Hope blinked. “Tonight?”


    Jake nodded. “Yeah. Me and Aaron’s room. No distractions, just us. You in?”


    Hope hesitated, but his smile made it hard for her to say no.


    She nodded. “I’m in.”


    By the time Hope returned to campus, the hallways were thinning out as students rushed to their last classes of the day. She barely made it inside before she heard a voice behind her.


    “Hope.”


    She turned to see Mr. Waltz, hands in his pockets, looking at her with a raised brow.


    “You weren’t in history today.”


    Hope’s mind scrambled for an excuse. “Oh—I, uh… I wasn’t feeling great.”


    Mr. Waltz didn’t call her out, but something in his expression said he didn’t buy it. “Alright,” he said casually. “I won’t mark you down this time. But I expect to see you there tomorrow.”


    Hope nodded quickly and turned away, relieved he wasn’t pressing further. But as she rounded the next hallway, another problem appeared.


    Bella.


    And, of course, Chase.


    Hope sighed internally as she walked past, but Bella’s voice stopped her.


    “Skipping class for a boy? That’s bold.”


    Hope rolled her eyes. “What are you talking about?”


    Bella smirked, flipping her perfect brown hair over her shoulder. “Come on, Hope. Everyone saw you running off with Jake.”


    Hope crossed her arms. “And?”


    Chase, leaning against the lockers, suddenly spoke. “Are you really that desperate?”


    Hope turned to him, narrowing her eyes. “Why do you care?”


    Bella’s gaze flickered between them, and for just a second, her smile faltered. “Because that’s pathetic.” Then, she stepped closer to Chase, linking her arm through his. Making sure Hope saw.


    Chase lingered for half a second longer before finally letting Bella pull him away.


    Hope exhaled, ignoring the weird feeling in her chest as she turned and walked off.


    As Hope walked back to the dorms, she started to feel a bit guilty for ditching Daisy and Sierra. So she made it a point to head straight to their room and fill them in on her day.


    “Okay, I love you, but are you insane?” Daisy’s voice was a mix of exasperation and amusement as Hope flopped onto her bed.


    Sierra frowned. “Ditching class isn’t a good look.”


    Hope groaned. “It was just one time.”


    “Uh-huh,” Daisy teased. “And let me guess—you’ll never do it again?”


    Hope hesitated.


    Daisy gasped. “You’re totally doing it again.”


    Sierra crossed her arms. “I have a bad feeling about them.”


    Hope sat up. “Why?”


    Sierra shrugged, looking thoughtful. “I don’t know. Just a feeling. Something’s… off.”


    Hope wanted to argue, but Sierra’s words unsettled her in a way she couldn’t explain.


    Daisy took a more supportive stance. “Just be careful, okay? We trust you.”


    Hope gave them a small smile. “I promise.”


    Except… she was already planning to sneak out again tonight.


    Hope waited until everything was quiet before slipping out of her dorm, moving quickly through the halls. The plan was simple—head to Jake and Aaron’s dorm, where Savannah was already waiting.


    But as she neared the boys’ dormitory, she froze.


    Up ahead, Bella and Chase.


    They weren’t talking. They were walking together, side by side, moving toward what Hope guessed was Chase’s dorm.


    Hope felt something tighten in her chest as she watched Bella reach for the door and step inside. Chase followed, the door clicking shut behind them.


    Hope swallowed hard, forcing herself to turn away.


    It didn’t matter. It wasn’t her business. She had other places to be.


    So why did it sting?


    Shaking off that thought, she pushed forward, hurrying toward Jake and Aaron’s room, where her new friends were waiting for her.


    She exhales and knocks on Jake and Aaron’s door. A second later, it swings open.


    Jake grins, already looking relaxed. “About time. We thought you bailed.”


    Savannah is curled up on Aaron’s bed, lazily shuffling a deck of cards. Aaron is sitting cross-legged on the floor, cracking open a small bottle. Music hums softly from the corner—a slow, hypnotic beat.


    Hope steps in, blinking at the sight of the bottle in Aaron’s hand. “Wait—is that…?”


    Jake smirks. “Sake.”


    Hope tries to hide a smile. “I didn’t know we had that here, where’d you get it?”


    Jake just winks. “Don’t worry about it.”


    Savannah chuckles from her spot. “Are you in or not?”


    Jake grins and hands her a little ceramic cup.


    Hope doesn’t really hesitate.


    The room fills with laughter as they take shots, play cards, and talk about everything and nothing.


    Aaron deals a round of cards and teaches Hope a game she’s never played before. She loses, and Jake teases her relentlessly.


    Savannah leans against Aaron. Her fingers absently trace the patterns on her cards, completely at ease.


    Hope loosens up. She hadn’t realized how tense she’d been—how much she needed this.


    Jake, sitting beside her, nudges her knee with his. “So,” he says lazily, “still thinking about our talk from earlier?”


    Hope blinks, her mind feeling slow, but still sharp enough to remember.


    Aaron swirls his cup, his voice lower now. “It’s nice how easy it is to just… talk about real shit when you’re not trying so hard to be what everyone expects?”


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    Savannah sighs, and looks at Hope. “Must be hard with that group you always hang with.”


    Hope nods.


    Jake studies her. “So what do you really want, Hope?”


    Hope shrugs. “Already told you.”


    Jake leans in just slightly, voice smooth, confident, teasing. “I know what my wish is.”


    His fingers brush against her knee—casual, but deliberate.


    His hand slides just slightly higher.


    And then, before she can think, he kisses her.


    The sake dulls the sharp edges of her thoughts, and for a moment, she lets it happen.


    His lips are warm, insistent but not forceful.


    She kisses him back.


    Savannah giggles softly from across the room. Aaron just smirks, but neither of them look surprised.


    Hope pulls away, her mind hazy but buzzing. The sake isn’t the only thing making her feel lightheaded now.


    She glances at the clock on Aaron’s desk and her stomach drops.


    “Shit,” she mutters, running a hand through her hair. “I have to go—I can’t miss class again.”


    Jake smirks. “You sure? We could make this a tradition.”


    Hope rolls her eyes but smiles. “I had fun. But seriously, I gotta go.”


    Aaron raises a lazy hand in farewell. Savannah just gives her a knowing smile.


    Hope leaves the room with butterflies still fluttering in her stomach.


    As she walks back to her dorm, she can’t stop replaying the kiss.


    It felt… different. Exciting. Like something shifting inside her—


    Her mind was finally off Chase.


    The next morning, after Miss Wilson’s practical magic class, Hope slouches onto a dining bench beside Daisy and Sierra, groaning.


    Daisy laughs. “Oh my God, you were so bad today.”


    “I wasn’t that bad,” Hope argues, but Sierra gives her a look.


    “The goal was to change water to ice. Why did you  set your desk on fire?” she deadpans.


    Daisy cackles. “It was impressive, honestly.”


    Hope groans, letting her head drop onto the table.


    But as the laughter fades, they glance over at the usual table—the one with Chase, Hunter, Drew, Bella, and Gabby.


    And there’s an obvious reason why they’re sitting farther away today.


    Bella and Chase. Sitting right next to each other.


    Holding hands.


    Daisy raises a brow. “Okay, so, you seriously don’t care about that?”


    Hope leans back, crossing her arms. “Nope.”


    Sierra eyes her skeptically. “Not even a little?”


    Hope smirks, leaning forward dramatically. “Oh, you guys have no idea.”


    Daisy blinks. “What?”


    Hope grins. “Remember that cute guy from yesterday? We kissed last night.”


    Daisy gasps, eyes widening. “No. Way.”


    Sierra’s face immediately shifts. “Wait… Jake?”


    Hope nods, still feeling giddy from the memory.


    Daisy nudges her. “Okay, details. Was it good?”


    Hope pretends to think. “Hmm… yeah, I’d say so.”


    Daisy giggles, but Sierra doesn’t laugh.


    Instead, her fingers tap lightly on the table. Something about this feels off.


    But before she can voice it—


    A hand taps Hope’s shoulder.


    She turns, and there’s Jake, smirking down at her.


    “Morning, beautiful.” His voice is smooth, easy. “Coming to sit with us?”


    Sierra tenses. Daisy glances between them.


    Hope doesn’t even hesitate.


    “Yeah,” she says, grabbing her tray.


    Daisy and Sierra exchange a glance. Sierra seems concerned, but Daisy brushes it off.


    And just like that, she leaves Daisy and Sierra behind.


    Sierra: (watching her leave) …I have a bad feeling about this.


    Hope settles into her new seat with Jake, Aaron, and Savannah. The mood is easy, lighthearted, effortless. Jake drapes an arm over the back of her chair, his touch just casual enough to not be obvious.


    Aaron smirks, shuffling a deck of cards. “So, Hope, tell me—do you actually like your classes?”


    Hope frowns, shrugging. “I mean… yeah? They’re interesting.”


    Jake tilts his head. “But do you actually care about them?”


    Hope hesitates. “I mean, I should probably care. I don’t want to get in trouble.”


    Savannah smiles sweetly. “See, that’s the thing about rules, Hope. They’re only there to keep you in check.”


    Aaron leans forward. “Yeah. The people who get the furthest in life aren’t the ones who blindly follow the system. They’re the ones who take control of their own paths.”


    Jake grins. “Exactly. And that’s why you should ditch class today.”


    Hope blinks. “Wait, what?”


    Jake nudges her playfully. “Come on, you already did it once. What’s one more time?”


    Savannah loops an arm through Hope’s, lowering her voice as if it’s some exciting secret. “We have something way better planned.”


    Hope hesitates. It’s tempting. The rush of skipping class last time had felt so freeing.


    But… she promised Daisy and Sierra she wouldn’t. And after Mr. Waltz catching her once, she couldn’t risk getting on a teacher’s radar.


    “I can’t,” she finally says. “I already missed yesterday. If I push it, people will start noticing.”


    For a moment, there’s a beat of tension.


    Jake watches her carefully, his smirk fading just slightly.


    Aaron’s expression is unreadable.


    Savannah sighs. “Fine.”


    Jake leans back, stretching. “Alright, alright. We won’t push you.” His smirk returns, easygoing again. “But after classes, we’re all meeting up.”


    Hope raises an eyebrow. “For what?”


    Aaron slides the deck of cards across the table. “We have an idea for you.”


    Savannah smiles. “Something… bigger.”


    Hope doesn’t know what that means. But she feels the weight of their words.


    After classes wrap up, Hope excitedly meets up with her new friends. The late afternoon sun casts long shadows as Hope follows Jake, Aaron, and Savannah up a narrow staircase. The moment they step onto the rooftop, a cool breeze rushes past.


    Hope looks around. “We’re allowed up here?”


    Jake shows a mischievous smile. “Technically? No.”


    Savannah chimes in. “Lighten up, Hope. Some of the best moments in life happen when you’re somewhere you shouldn’t be.”


    Hope looks around at the others, puzzled. “So… what exactly are we doing here?”


    Aaron crosses his arms. “We’re figuring you out.”


    Hope raises a brow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”


    Savannah’s voice is soft. “We saw what you did in the dining hall a little while back.”


    Hope stiffens. Her mind flashes back to Chase, the heat of her own frustration, the glowing attack she had fired at him without thinking.


    Hope shakes off the memory. “So?”


    Jake’s face turns serious. ”So? Hope, that was light energy.”


    Hope blinks, confused.


    Hope: “Right, spirit extermination magic.”


    Aaron shakes his head. “No.”


    Hope opens her mouth to argue, but Savannah steps closer, her voice calm, persuasive.


    “Haven teaches magic in limits. They tell you that you’re only capable of one thing. One function. But you—your magic wasn’t purifying Chase, was it?”


    Hope hesitates. The truth is… it wasn’t. She didn’t use a purification spell. She just acted on instinct, and it really did hurt him.


    Aaron watches her carefully. “Corrupted Sei? Their low vibration frequency.. that’s “dark energy”. And what’s the opposite of that?”


    Hope realizes what he means, and responds slowly. “…Light.”


    Jake grins. “Bingo.”


    Hope grips the railing. No one had yet explained it like this before. The irony of all this is that growing up, Hope’s family called her power “evil sorcery,” and “devilish”. Up until she saved Hana, Hope hadn’t put much thought into her power.


    Savannah gently interrupted Hope’s train of thought. “Let’s see how far it goes.”


    Aaron gestures to the open rooftop space. “Start small. The light illusions, like you did in the dining hall.”


    Hope summons the familiar glowing spheres of light in her palms- soft, swirling colors of pink and blue. They hover gently, flickering embers.


    Savannah watches with quiet fascination. Jake tilts his head.


    Jake seems impressed. “Pretty. What else?”


    Hope frowns. “What do you mean?”


    Aaron eyes her, carefully. “Can you do anything else?”


    Hope hesitates. She’s never thought of her magic as something to expand. But… she has done more before, hasn’t she?


    She exhales, channeling the heat in her core. The air shifts, warming slightly—then, in her palms, the spheres of light turn to flames.


    Savannah let out a soft gasp. “I knew it.”


    Hope stares at the fire in her hand. She’s never considered how natural it feels, how much it makes sense.


    Aaron looks Hope dead in the eyes. “Now the real test.” He pulls a battery from his pocket and tosses it to her.


    Hope catches it, confused. “…What am I supposed to do with this?”


    Aaron looks at Hope like she just missed something obvious. “Electricity doesn’t disappear. It moves. Transfer its energy into your fingertips.”


    Hope tries, but nothing happens.


    Savannah shifts her gaze from the battery back to Hope. “Maybe try this- feel the electricity that’s already in the air. Static energy is always around us. Try channeling the vibrations that feel… shaky.”


    Hope stares at her with skepticism. But then—she closes her eyes.


    She reaches, not physically, but with her senses. And for the first time, she feels it. A faint, buzzing vibration in the air—tiny, restless energy waves rippling around her.


    Her fingers tingle. She reaches her hand out, and a faint spark appears at her fingertips. A small pink voltage, jumping in every direction.


    Hope inhales sharply.


    Jake watches closely. “Good. Now, own it.”


    Hope focuses. She lets her own pulse guide the energy, feeling it flow up her arms, building pressure in her fingertips. The sparks grow brighter, snapping in the air like tiny fireworks.


    Savannah whispers, “there it is.”


    Hope releases. BOOM.


    A bolt of lightning cracks through the air, illuminating the rooftop in a flash of white. The force rattles the railing behind her. For a moment, the entire world feels electric.


    Hope stumbles back, her breath coming in sharp gasps. Her hands are still tingling.


    Savannah was beaming. “You did it!”


    Hope’s eyes were wide, surprised. “I’ve only ever done that a couple times out of instinct, when my emotions were intense. How did I do that?”


    Jake looked assured in Hope. “Because your power goes beyond what you’ve been told.


    Aaron chuckles. “You’re not an exorcist, Hope.”


    “Pure, raw light energy.” Savannah looks over at Hope. “Imagine what else you could do with a little practice.”


    Hope looks at her, still shaken, but intrigued. And for the first time… she wonders if she’s only scratched the surface of her power.


    As they start heading back to the staircase, the air still hums with the aftershock of Hope’s lightning. She can still feel it in her fingertips, the energy buzzing beneath her skin.


    Jake grins. “That was insane.”


    Aaron tosses the battery in the air, then catches it. “Guess we found our missing piece.”


    Hope doesn’t fully understand what that means, but she’s still too caught up in what just happened to question it. As they walk down the stairwell, her mind races.


    They exit onto the main campus walkway, the cool night air brushing against them. The dorms are just ahead—but then a voice calls her name.


    “Hope.”


    Hope freezes. The tone is off. Not casual. Not friendly. Urgent.


    Sierra stands just outside the dorm building, arms crossed, eyes flicking between Hope and the other three. Her gaze lingers on Jake’s hand interlocked with Hope’s.


    Sierra steps forward. “Can I talk to you?”


    Hope glances at Jake, then back at Sierra. “Uh—now?”


    Sierra nods. “Yes. Now.”


    The tension thickens. Jake sighs dramatically. “Here we go.”


    Hope hesitates, then steps toward Sierra. Aaron and Savannah exchange a glance, but Jake just brushes it off, watching like he already knows how this is going to go.


    Sierra lowers her voice. “Hope, what are you doing?”


    Hope folds her arms. “What do you mean?”


    Sierra gestures toward Jake and the others. “This. Them. You barely even know them, and now you’re just… ditching class, sneaking out in the middle of the night, and climbing on rooftops?”


    Hope scoffs. “You make it sound like I’m committing a crime.”


    Sierra frowns. “You don’t see it, do you? They’re pulling you away from everyone. From me. From Daisy.”


    Hope’s stomach twists, but she pushes it down. “So what? You don’t get to decide who I hang out with, Sierra.”


    Sierra shakes her head. “That’s not what I’m saying. I just—”


    Hope cuts her off. “No, that’s exactly what you’re saying. You don’t like them, so you want me to stay away. Maybe you’re the one being controlling.”


    Sierra flinches. Hope immediately regrets saying it, but it’s already out there.


    Sierra’s voice softens. “That’s not fair.”


    Hope shrugs. “Neither is you acting like you know what’s best for me.”


    Sierra exhales, staring at Hope like she’s trying to figure out how they even got here. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”


    Hope meets her gaze, expression unreadable. “I’m fine.”


    Sierra steps back. “I’ve had a bad feeling about Jake since you met him, but whatever. I’m not gonna stop you. Bye.”


    Hope walks back over to the group, jaw clenched. She wasn’t mad, but she was getting there.


    Jake watches Sierra leave and raises an eyebrow. “Yikes. What was that about?”


    Hope exhales sharply. “She’s just being dramatic.”


    Savannah tilts her head. “Or jealous.”


    Aaron smirks. “Or both.”


    Hope lets out a frustrated laugh, rubbing her temples.


    Jake shakes his head. “You see what I mean? That’s exactly why you need to stop hanging around them.”


    Hope frowns. “What?”


    Jake shrugs. “They don’t actually want what’s best for you, Hope. They just want to keep you on a leash. Keep you where they can control you.”


    Savannah leans in slightly. “They don’t want to see you with anyone else.”


    Hope frowns, something unsettled twisting in her chest. But… weren’t they kind of right? Sierra didn’t even let her explain, she just jumped straight to judgment.


    Jake tilts his head, watching her carefully. “You felt that, didn’t you? How she just turned on you the second you didn’t do what she wanted?”


    Hope looks away. She doesn’t answer. But Jake can tell she’s already believing him.


    Aaron stretches. “Come on. We have bigger things to focus on.”


    Jake smirks. “Yeah. You’re not gonna let some petty drama ruin the night, are you?”


    Hope exhales, shaking off the tension. No. She’s not. Sierra’s wrong. She knows what she’s doing.


    She straightens her shoulders. “Let’s go.”


    Jake smiles like he’s already won. And together, they disappear into the dorms.


    The door clicks shut behind Hope as she steps inside Jake and Aaron’s dorm. The room is dimly lit, a single desk lamp casting long shadows against the walls. The air feels heavier than usual—thick with something she can’t name.


    Jake leans against the desk, arms crossed. Savannah sits on Aaron’s bed, watching Hope with a small, expectant smile. Aaron kneels beside his nightstand, reaching underneath it.


    Aaron glances up at Hope. “We’re ready to show you something else.”


    Hope folds her arms. “There’s more?”


    Aaron pulls out a black, old-looking, almost torn-up book. The leather cover is cracked and aged, its edges frayed. But the first thing Hope notices is the symbol in the center- an upside-down pentagram.


    Her stomach twists.


    Aaron sets it down in front of her. “I found this in an abandoned house during one of my solo adventures.”


    Savannah runs a finger over the spine. “This isn’t like the books they let us read in class.”


    Jake smirks. “Go on. Open it.”


    Hope hesitates, but her fingers move on their own, trailing over the rough cover before flipping it open.


    The first few pages seem harmless enough. Little jinxes, love spells. Even simple charms for good luck.


    Then she turns another page.


    Her breath catches.


    “Obsession Spell.”


    “Misfortune Hex.”


    “Curse of Pain.”


    She swallows hard and keeps flipping. The pages grow darker, heavier.


    “Killing Curse.” “Bend Someone’s Free Will.”


    “Summon an Evil Sei” “Become a Sei.”


    “Make a Soul Never Pass.”


    Hope snaps the book shut, her eyes wide in horror. “…This is wrong.”


    Savannah tilts her head. “Why’s that?”


    Hope glares at her. “Uh, hello? Have you seen what’s in here?.”


    Aaron sighs, exchanging a look with Jake. “Keep reading.”


    Hope hesitates, but she flips open the book again. Her fingers tremble as she lands on a new page.


    Manifesting Your Every Desire.


    Hope looks up at them warily.


    Jake leans in, his voice smooth. “Remember what we talked about? About wanting more?”


    Savannah nods. “We all have something we want, Hope. And this… this could give us everything.”


    Hope shakes her head. “Miss Wilson said that magic always comes with a price. She said it was a law of the universe, every action has an equal-”


    Aaron interrupts “That’s just what they want us to believe. Maybe they just don’t want people to know how powerful they could be.”


    Hope examines the page again—and that’s when she sees it.


    Her breath catches. Light energy.


    The spell requires an immense amount of light energy to work.


    Hope’s eyes widen. “That’s why you needed me.”


    Jake smiles. “You’re the missing piece.”


    Hope grips the book tighter, her pulse quickening. This whole time… they didn’t care about her. They never needed her—they needed her power.


    Hope clenches her jaw. “So what? You just wanted me to be your personal battery so you could get rich and powerful?”


    Jake sighs. “Come on, Hope. You’re thinking about this all wrong. Imagine it—we could have everything. No more rules, no more limits.”


    Savannah nods. “We could be free.”


    Aaron leans forward. “No evil spirits, no living in fear. Just peace.”


    Jake smirks. “And, you know… we could be happy together. Without a fear in the world.”


    Hope’s chest tightens. The worst part? A tiny part of her wants to believe them.


    But then Jake adds, “I already like you, Hope. But this? This would make me like you even more.”


    And that’s when something snaps.


    Hope slams the book shut. “Are you kidding me?”


    Jake frowns. “Hope—”


    Hope steps back, voice rising. “You used me. This whole thing—it was never about me. It was about what I could do for you.”


    Aaron stands. “You’re overreacting.”


    Hope glares at him. “No, I’m finally seeing things clearly.” She turns to the door, reaching for the handle. She’s done.


    But the second her fingers graze the knob—the door slams shut.


    Hope whirls around.


    Savannah’s hand is raised slightly, her telekinesis holding the door firmly in place.


    Savannah smiles. “You’re not leaving yet.”


    Hope’s heart pounds. “Let me out.”


    Jake steps forward. “Hope. You’re making this harder than it needs to be.”


    Hope clenches her fists. She’s done talking.


    Jake sighs dramatically. “Guess we’re doing this the hard way.”


    And then—he throws the first attack. A dark, pulsing ray of energy hurls toward her. Hope barely dodges, slamming against the wall as the fight begins.


    A pink kaleidoscopic circle flares behind Hope,, glowing and shifting as it forms. Hope doesn’t think—she reacts. The magic bursts outward, sending an array of piercing light beams across the room. They hit the bed, burning through the sheets.


    Savannah flicks her fingers toward Hope as she’s reaching for the door.


    Hope’s body collapses to the floor. A heavy weight presses on her chest, forcing her down.


    Aaron lunges forward, summoning a spiraling dagger of energy. Hope grits her teeth, rolling over just in time to barely miss it.


    She throws up an arm, creating a light barrier, deflecting Aaron’s next attack. But it won’t last.


    Her other hand reaches out—twisting the door knob.


    The second it clicks open, she bolts.


    Hope sprints down the hallway, her heartbeat thundering in her ears.


    Behind her, Jake, Aaron, and Savannah chase her.


    A blast of dark bullets slam into the walls beside her, shattering light fixtures and sending sparks flying.


    Hope ducks, nearly tripping as another attack whizzes past her head. The narrow hallway leaves her no room to move, no space to breathe.


    Aaron grins. “You’re not gonna run forever, Hope!”


    Hope ignores him, pushing forward.


    Savannah throws out a hand—Hope sees the air ripple.


    Hope throws herself to the side just in time to avoid the force that slams into the hallway wall where she stood seconds before.


    She needs to get out. The courtyard.


    Hope bursts through the main exit, nearly crashing into a group of students.


    A second later, Jake, Aaron, and Savannah follow—and this time, everyone sees.


    The open courtyard is full of students—some on their way to dorms, others lingering on the patios of the research center.


    Hope skids to a stop, chest heaving.


    The second she does, another attack flies toward her.


    Hope throws up her hands, a blinding white barrier flaring up just in time. The impact cracks against it, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.


    The courtyard erupts into chaos. Some students scream, scatter, and run in every direction.


    From the windows of the main buildin’s spiral staircase, students peer down, eyes wide in confusion. More people rush out onto the research center’s patios.


    All eyes are on Hope. On the cult.


    Hope squares her stance. Her hands glow with pulsing pink energy.


    Jake, Aaron, and Savannah spread out around her.


    Jake cracks his knuckles, grinning. “I don’t mind the audience.”


    Savannah tilts her head, calm as ever. “Give up now, Hope. Come back inside with us.”


    Aaron smirks. “Or don’t. This’ll be fun either way.”


    Hope tightens her fists, light crackling at her fingertips.


    She doesn’t have time to think. She’s outnumbered.


    A rapid barrage of piercing spheres launch from Hope’s kaleidoscope, forming intricate patterns. The courtyard glows with hundreds of radiant projectiles.


    Aaron dodges left, barely avoiding a spinning beam of light. Savannah flicks her hand, and the incoming attacks move out of her way.


    Jake moves the fastest, warping between the projectiles with razor-sharp precision.


    Jake then flicks his wrist—dark rays that look like whips lash toward Hope.


    Hope dodges mid-air, firing a concentrated beam downward, splitting the attack before it can reach her.


    Aaron lunges forward, summoning a shadowy blade. He slashes, but Hope leans back just in time, the edge slicing inches from her torso.


    She flips backward, firing a pulse of energy at the ground. The force sends her high into the air—above all of them.


    Jake grins. “Nice try.”


    He moves too fast.


    A dark wave blasts from his hands—Hope barely raises a shield before it slams into her.


    The impact sends her crashing into the ground, dust flying up around her.


    A murmur rushes through the crowd. She doesn’t move.


    Jake exhales, rolling his shoulders. “Told you. No one fights against us and wins.”


    Savannah folds her arms, satisfied. Aaron shakes his head. “Should’ve just listened, Hope.”


    A few bystanders exchange nervous whispers.


    Hope squeezes her eyes shut. The pain is sharp.


    But this isn’t over yet.


    She remembers the rooftop, the frequencies in the air.


    A deep breath. She weakly lifts her arm up.


    All of the sudden, a static sound was heard.


    A pulse of electricity explodes outward. Sparks crackle along her fingertips—then, in an instant—


    Lightning surges.


    Bolts of white-hot electricity strike down, rapid and relentless.


    Jake’s eyes widen. “Shit—“


    A crack-


    The first strike hits Savannah, sending her crashing into the courtyard tiles.


    Then another.


    Aaron’s body locks up before he’s slammed backwards.


    Jake sets up to raise a shield, but—


    A final crash.


    Hope’s final strike knocks him off his feet. He hits the ground hard.


    The courtyard falls silent.


    Hope lowers her arm, breath unsteady. The last flickers of lightning crash upward from the courtyard.


    Jake, Aaron, and Savannah lie on the ground—stunned, unmoving.


    They don’t get up.


    Hope exhales, looking down at them. “Pathetic.”


    Students whisper in shock. Some stare at Hope in awe. Others back away, as if realizing for the first time—


    She’s stronger than they ever gave her credit for.


    “Damn, she mopped the floor with them.”


    “Losing 3 against 1 is crazy.”


    Hope finally realizes how many people are surrounding her, but her gaze shifts over to the stone path in the distance. Sierra and Daisy stand frozen, having witnessed everything.


    She starts to step away—


    But a cold, iron grip latches onto her wrist.


    Hope whirls around.


    Principal Spring stands there, her face unreadable. But her grip tightens, twisting Hope’s arm just enough to make her wince.


    Hope tenses. “What—”


    “You. With me. Now.”


    Before Hope can react, Spring yanks her forward, practically dragging her toward the administrative building.


    The murmurs around the courtyard turn into full-blown whispers.


    “Oh, shit.”


    “Did you see that?”


    “Spring looked pissed.”


    Daisy and Sierra exchange a look.


    Sierra’s stomach twists. “Let’s go.”


    Daisy nods. “Yeah. Now.”


    The door slams shut behind Hope and Spring in the administration office.


    Hope stumbles slightly as Spring finally releases her, stepping around her desk with sharp, deliberate movements. The air in the office is stifling.


    Hope rubs her wrist, glaring. “What the hell was that?”


    Spring’s gaze is cold. Calculating. But when she finally speaks, her voice is low, composed—dangerous.


    “Since the day you arrived, it’s been nothing but chaos. This is not your first public display of violence. What do you think that says about you?”


    Hope scoffs. “Um, excuse me, I was defending myself from a cult that was trying to, like, kill me?”


    Spring doesn’t blink. “That’s your excuse?”


    Hope glares. “It’s not an excuse. It literally happened.”


    Spring leans forward, fingers interlacing. “You could have just reported them.”


    Hope’s fists clench. “They were trying to hurt me. And besides, report them to who? The faculty that does nothing?


    A tense silence fills the air.


    Spring finally exhales, shaking her head. “I don’t believe any of this ‘cult’ nonsense. I think you just like the attention you’ve been getting.”


    Hope frowns. “What are you talking about?”


    Spring meets her gaze directly.


    “You know that you’re powerful, even for our standards,” she says smoothly. “And you like how people react to it.”


    Hope’s stomach drops. She can still feel the dozens of eyes that watched her. Whispered about her. Not in admiration. But in fear.


    Spring sighs. “You’re dangerous.”


    Hope stiffens. “I’m not—”


    “You are,” Spring cuts in sharply. “And that makes you a problem.”


    Hope’s pulse spikes. “Are you threatening me?”


    Spring tilts her head slightly. “I’m warning you.”


    She stands, slow and deliberate. “Keep this up, and I’ll have no choice but to consider expulsion.”


    Hope snaps. “Are you serious? You’d let them get away with everything, but you’d expel me for stopping them?”


    Spring keeps a straight face. “None of this was an issue until you showed up.”


    Hope’s nails dig into her palms. Something is wrong. And for the first time… Hope wonders why.


    The silence between them stretches too long. Then—


    “You’re dismissed. Get out of my office.” Spring says, as she begins to sift through a stack of paperwork on her desk.


    The second Hope steps out of the office, she sees Daisy and Sierra waiting just outside.


    Daisy exhales in relief. “Oh, thank God.”


    Sierra folds her arms. “You okay?”


    Hope hesitates. She should brush it off. Laugh. Pretend none of this got to her.


    But for the first time since this whole mess started, she doesn’t want to lie.


    She shakes her head. “No. Not really.”


    Daisy gives her a gentle, knowing look. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”


    Hope doesn’t argue. They step outside, walking in silence for a few moments. Hope’s chest loosens just being with them again.


    Daisy’s the first to kill the tension. “Hope, what the hell happened?”


    Hope looks at Daisy, defeated. “They were a cult. Literally.”


    Daisy’s smile falters. “Hope…”


    Hope lets out a shaky breath, rubbing her wrist where Principal Spring had grabbed her. “And Spring threatened to expel me.”


    Sierra’s expression shifts immediately—her shoulders tense, her brows knit together. “Wait, what?”


    Daisy’s eyes widen. “That’s insane. You were defending yourself!”


    Hope lets out a bitter laugh. “That’s what I said. But she didn’t care. She just—” She swallows hard. “She looked at me like I was the problem. Like I was something to be handled.”


    Sierra stays quiet.


    Too quiet.


    Hope glances at her. “Sierra?”


    Sierra doesn’t answer right away. She’s staring at the ground, lips pressed together, like she’s putting something together in her mind.


    Hope frowns. “What?”


    Finally, Sierra exhales. “You’re done hanging out with them, right?”


    Hope groans. “Okay. Fine. I’m sorry, Sierra. I should’ve trusted you. You were right.”


    Sierra smirks. “What was that?”


    Hope glares. “You heard me.”


    “Oh, we’re never letting you live this down.” Daisy smiles, fidgeting with her braids. “Moral of the story. Our principal is a total bitch, Hope was in a cult, and we should always listen to Sierra.”


    Hope rolls her eyes. “Awesome summary, thanks.”


    Daisy smirks, nudging her playfully. “Just keeping you updated.”


    Hope lets out a small laugh. “Right.”


    Sierra softens. “You’re gonna be okay, though. We’ve got you.”


    Hope looks between them—her first real friends in this place.


    She exhales, the weight in her chest finally loosening.


    Daisy hooks an arm around Hope’s. “Alright, you definitely owe us another girls’ night after this disaster.”


    Sierra smirks. “Snacks, skincare, and debrief?”


    Hope smiles for the first time in what feels like forever. “Yeah, yeah. Let’s go.”


    And just like that, the three of them walk away—together.