The days at the academy settled into a steady rhythm. During the day, Artemis attended classes with her friends, studying mythology, combat, and magic. At night, when the halls of the academy were silent and the moon cast its ethereal glow, she trained in secret under Lucine’s watchful eye. Her body ached from exhaustion, but with each passing night, she felt herself growing stronger, more attuned to the celestial energy that coursed within her.
Eric continued his relentless attempts at charming Kayla, though his efforts were met with nothing more than cool indifference. During lunch, he dramatically leaned against the table, grinning as he popped a grape into his mouth. “Kayla, if you ever gave me a chance, I’d take you anywhere you wanted.”
Kayla didn’t even look up from her book. “Great. I’ll take you to the nearest cliff.”
Lydia snorted into her drink while Artemis tried and failed to suppress her laughter. “That was brutal,” Artemis said, shaking her head.
Eric sighed, dramatically clutching his chest. “One day, Kayla, one day you’ll realize you’re madly in love with me.”
Kayla turned a page. “That day is not today.”
Later that evening, the girls gathered in the common area of their suite, sprawled across the plush couches and chairs. The warm glow of enchanted lanterns flickered gently, casting soft light over the room. Artemis stretched out on the couch, absently tossing a pillow into the air before launching it toward Kayla. “You should give him a chance. He might grow on you.”
Kayla caught the pillow and rolled her eyes. “Like mold?”
Lydia burst into laughter. “Oh, come on! He’s persistent. That has to count for something.”
Kayla sighed, still engrossed in her book. “It counts for annoyance.”
Artemis and Lydia exchanged a knowing look before shifting the conversation. “What about you, Lydia?” Artemis asked. “What do you think about your partner now?”
Lydia hesitated before saying, “Sorrel seems nice enough.” She shrugged, but a small frown tugged at her lips. “There’s just something about him I can’t quite figure out. Like he’s hiding something.”
Artemis tilted her head. “You think he’s dangerous?”
Lydia shook her head. “Not dangerous. Just… guarded. And I don’t know why.”
The conversation shifted when Kayla glanced at Artemis curiously. “And what about you? Why do you keep trying so hard with Ren?”
Artemis hesitated, fiddling with a loose thread on her blanket. “I just… I think he deserves to be happy.”
Lydia sat up, intrigued. “What do you mean?”
“He has people around him—his sister, his childhood friend—but he still seems lonely.” Artemis met their gazes, her expression soft but determined. “It’s like he believes he doesn’t deserve anything good. And I want to change that.”
Lydia smiled warmly. “I love that about you.” She nudged Artemis playfully. “If you need help, just say the word.”
Artemis shook her head with a small smile. “Thanks, but I want to try on my own first.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A month passed in a blur, and as lunchtime approached one day, Lydia clapped her hands together. "Alright, listen up! Tomorrow’s a free day, and I say we take a trip into town."
Artemis perked up. "Wait, we can leave campus?"
Lydia nodded. "Yeah, we just have to tell our dorm managers first. Oh, and we can’t attract too much attention."
Kayla, nose-deep in her book, barely reacted. Artemis and Lydia exchanged looks before Lydia leaned forward. "Come on, Kayla. It’ll be fun."
"I’m reading."
Artemis nudged her. "Think of it as research. Maybe we’ll find a bookstore."
Kayla sighed, closing her book with a soft thud. “Fine. But if this turns into a disaster, I’m blaming both of you.”
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Across the table, Sorrel and Eric had overheard. "You’re going to town?" Sorrel asked. "Mind if we tag along?"
Sakura, who had just joined them, grinned. "I’m in! I’ll drag Ren along too."
Artemis raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"
Sakura smirked with a wink. "Don’t worry. He’ll come."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After classes, Artemis stopped by Aiden’s office. The headmaster looked up from his paperwork with a smile. "Artemis! To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"I wanted to let you know I’m going into town tomorrow with some friends."
Aiden’s smile widened. "That’s wonderful! I’m glad you’re making friends." He reached into his desk and pulled out a sleek black card. "Here, take this. Buy yourself something nice."
Artemis hesitated. "I can’t just take your money."
Aiden waved her off. "Nonsense! What kind of father would I be if I didn’t spoil my daughter a little?"
Mr. Sage, who was standing nearby with Ms. Clarke, rolled his eyes. "You’re spoiling her too much."
Ms. Clarke giggled. "Oh, let him. It’s adorable."
Aiden grinned proudly. "See Tallis? Safiya gets it."
Artemis chuckled. "Thanks, Dad."
Aiden leaned forward, his expression softening. "Just be careful, alright? And if anything feels off, don’t hesitate to come back."
"I will," she promised before leaving the office.
Once she was gone, Mr. Sage exhaled. "Are you sure it’s safe to let them go into town?"
Aiden’s expression grew serious, but he remained firm. "We can’t keep them sheltered forever. They need to enjoy life while they can. The road ahead is going to be hard, but right now, they should be kids."
Ms. Clarke hesitated before asking, "Have you heard from ‘Mother’?"
Aiden’s smile faded slightly. "No. Not yet."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next day, the group met outside, dressed in casual clothes. True to her word, Sakura had managed to convince Ren to join them, though he looked uncomfortable.
A sleek black bus pulled up, its driver an unsettling figure. Mr. Azrael was tall and thin, his long skeletal fingers gripping the wheel tightly. His black uniform contrasted starkly against his deathly pale skin. His hat sat low, covering his eyes, leaving only his sharp-toothed grin visible.
Lucas took one look and muttered, "Maybe we should rethink this."
Lydia rolled her eyes and dragged him onto the bus. The bus passed through the academy’s protective barrier, entering a vibrant and bustling city. The streets were lined with colorful shops, cafés, and markets filled with people. Music played from open storefronts, and the scent of fresh pastries wafted through the air. The city was alive, filled with laughter and movement, a stark contrast to the structured and mystical atmosphere of the school .
As they stepped off the bus, a familiar voice called out, "Well, well, fancy seeing you guys here."
They turned to find Archie leaning casually against a lamppost, grinning. "Didn’t expect to run into me, huh? I caught the morning bus into town. Figured I’d explore. Need a tour guide?"
"That would actually be great," Artemis admitted.
"Then follow me!" Archie led them through the winding streets, pointing out the best shops, restaurants, and hidden gems the city had to offer. Hours passed as they explored. The girls went shopping, finding a charming boutique filled with stylish clothes, while the boys wandered off to a gaming store to check out the latest releases.
At some point, Archie disappeared, but Artemis assumed he had simply returned to school.
As they regrouped later, Ren suddenly stiffened beside Artemis, his eyes darkened. At that same moment, Artemis felt a sudden heat flare across her birthmark, a dull, burning sensation that made her wince. She instinctively pressed a hand over it, confusion flashing across her face.
When she glanced at Ren, she noticed that he was gripping his left shoulder tightly, his jaw clenched as if he were in pain. But before she could ask him about it, he straightened and scanned the streets warily. "Something’s wrong."
Artemis frowned. "What do you mean?"
Ren’s gaze swept the streets, his body tense. "We need to leave. Now."
Before Artemis could ask why, a chilling sensation ran down her spine, and she followed Ren''s gaze toward the shadows. A pair of glowing red eyes stared at them from an alleyway. The creature lingered in the shadows, just beyond the notice of regular humans, but they could all see it.
"Guys," Artemis said urgently. "We need to get back to the bus."
The group didn’t hesitate. As they moved quickly through the streets, the creature slipped between the shadows, stalking them. It was fast, too fast.
Just as it lunged, Ren grabbed Artemis’s wrist and pulled her behind him. With a swift motion, he raised his arm, a dark energy forming in his palm. The creature hesitated, snarling but unwilling to charge forward immediately.
"Go!" Ren ordered. "Get the others!"
Artemis hesitated for only a second before nodding and running to warn the rest of the group. Ren stood his ground, shielding her retreat as the creature lurked in the shadows, waiting for its chance.
Artemis and the others hurried onto the bus, breathless and tense. Ren, however, remained behind, his eyes locked onto the shadows where the creature lurked. He stood at the entrance, scanning the group to ensure everyone was accounted for. Only when he was certain that no one was left behind did he finally step onto the bus, never once turning his back to the alley. As soon as Ren was inside, Mr. Azrael pulled the doors shut with a sharp clang and pressed his skeletal fingers against the wheel. The bus lurched forward, speeding away from the city and leaving the creature to vanish back into the darkness.
The group sat in silence, catching their breath and exchanging glances. Finally, Sorrel spoke. "What was that?"
No one had an answer