As Artemis slowly regained consciousness, the world around her was hazy. The first thing she registered was the sterile scent of antiseptic, followed by the rhythmic beeping of medical monitors. Blinking, she took in the ceiling above her—unfamiliar and brightly lit. She wasn’t in the museum anymore. She was back at the academy, in the infirmary.


    Her entire body ached, a dull soreness replacing the burning pain she had felt before passing out. Memories of the Mantikhoras attack rushed back—its piercing blue eyes, the rows of jagged teeth, the venom spreading through her veins. Instinctively, she tried to move, but even shifting slightly sent a wave of exhaustion through her limbs. Her fingers twitched, reaching for something—her bow, her weapon—but she found only the soft sheets of the infirmary bed.


    A soft but amused voice interrupted her dazed thoughts. "Ah, finally awake. That’s a relief."


    She turned her head, feeling the stiffness in her muscles. A man stood beside her bed, checking the monitors with a warm, reassuring smile. He looked to be in his early thirties, his brown skin illuminated under the soft glow of the infirmary lights. His striking green eyes held a knowing but kind look, and his neatly cut black hair gave him a polished and professional air.


    "You gave everyone quite the scare," he remarked as he jotted something down on a clipboard. "I’m Dr. Asa, the academy’s resident physician, and I am the gods’ physician Paean. But right now, I’m just the guy making sure you don’t keel over."


    Artemis let out a weak chuckle, though even that tiny movement drained her energy. "How long… was I out?"


    "A few hours," Dr. Asa replied, adjusting the blanket over her. "You were lucky your friends found you when they did. The Mantikhoras’ venom was strong, but we were able to neutralize it before it could do permanent damage. You’ll be fine, but you need to rest."


    She swallowed, her throat dry. "What happened to the… creature?"


    "Dead." Dr. Asa''s expression turned grim. "You managed to take it down before collapsing. Impressive, considering how dangerous those things are. But next time, let’s not go getting poisoned, alright?" His teasing tone softened the seriousness of his words.


    Artemis gave him a tired smile, but before she could respond, he stepped back. "I need to inform Headmaster Aiden that you’re awake. He’s been worried. Don’t move around too much."


    As he exited, the door burst open again, and a flood of familiar faces rushed in. Lydia, Kayla, Sakura, Sorrel, Ren, and Eric all crowded around her bed, their expressions a mix of concern, relief, and exasperation.


    "Are you out of your mind?!" Lydia was the first to speak, her hands planted firmly on her hips. "Walking off like that? Do you have a death wish?"


    Artemis groaned, already anticipating the scolding. "I didn’t realize I was alone until I looked up. Even Archie was gone."


    Sorrel crossed his arms, his normally calm demeanor edged with worry. "That’s twice now. The attack in the city… and now this. Someone is targeting you."


    Sakura frowned. "Which makes me wonder—was the attack in the city planned, too?"


    Ren’s face darkened, his fingers curling into a fist. "Whoever’s behind this… I won’t let them hurt you again."


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    Eric smirked, nudging Ren’s shoulder. "Aww, how sweet. Our Ren’s becoming protective."


    Ren’s ears turned red. "It’s not like that! She’s my partner. I can’t have her dying on me before we graduate!"


    Laughter rippled through the group, lightening the tense atmosphere for a brief moment. But the concern remained heavy in the air.


    Ren cleared his throat, regaining his composure. "Besides, I’ve been thinking. Both times, the attacks happened after we were with Archie."


    Lydia furrowed her brows. "But Archie is around us all the time. If he were involved, wouldn’t the attacks happen more often?"


    Kayla folded her arms, deep in thought. "Unless he can’t summon monsters inside the academy. The barrier keeps most of them out. That would explain why the attacks only happen when we’re off campus."


    Artemis sat up slightly, realization dawning on her. "And that would explain how Archie knew about the city attack when we never told anyone."


    A heavy silence fell over the group as they processed this revelation.


    "If it is him," Lydia said firmly, "we need proof before we act. We can’t just accuse him without evidence."


    They all nodded in agreement. If Archie was truly connected to the attacks, they had to uncover the truth before making a move.


    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


    After a few days of recovery, Dr. Asa finally cleared Artemis for release from the infirmary. She was eager to get back to her normal school routine, but there was an underlying tension among her and her friends. The attacks had put them all on edge, and they couldn’t shake the feeling that whoever was behind them wasn’t done yet.


    As Artemis returned to her classes, she noticed that Archie was still his usual friendly self, chatting with students and acting like nothing had changed. But now, she and the gang were watching him more closely. Every interaction, every move he made—it all seemed suspicious in hindsight. The fact that he had vanished right before the attack at the museum was something none of them could ignore.


    Between classes, Artemis found herself distracted. Every time Archie appeared in her peripheral vision, her mind wandered to the attacks. Was he truly involved, or was it just a coincidence? She wanted to believe that he wasn’t a threat, but the evidence was stacking against him. Even Ren, who was usually more reserved with his suspicions, seemed to be keeping a closer eye on him.


    During lunch one afternoon, Lydia leaned in and whispered, "He’s watching us."


    Artemis glanced subtly over her shoulder. Archie was across the cafeteria, laughing with another group of students, but his gaze flickered toward them for just a moment too long before he looked away. A chill ran down her spine.


    "He knows we’re onto him," Kayla muttered.


    Sakura frowned. "Then we need to be careful. If he really is behind this, he might try something else."


    Sorrel tapped his fingers against the table thoughtfully. "We need a plan. If we can’t confront him yet, we need to gather evidence. If he slips up, we’ll be ready."


    Artemis nodded, determination settling in her chest. "Then we keep watching. And when the time comes, we’ll be ready."


    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


    In his office, Headmaster Aiden sat behind his desk, his expression tense. He tapped his fingers on the polished wood, deep in thought. Across from him, Mr. Sage and Ms. Clarke stood, equally troubled.


    "Someone is after my daughter," Aiden finally said, his voice strained with worry.


    Mr. Sage adjusted his sleeves, his expression thoughtful. "If she really is the child mentioned in the Prophecy, there are those who would try to eliminate her before she reaches her full potential."


    Aiden’s jaw tightened. "Then we need to secure the academy. If they can’t get to her outside, they might try attacking us here."


    Ms. Clarke nodded. "Do you want us to check the barrier?"


    "Immediately," Aiden ordered. "Make sure there are no weak spots. If someone is finding a way through, we need to know before it’s too late."


    Just as Mr. Sage and Ms. Clarke turned to leave, the sound of blaring alarms filled the air.


    Aiden shot to his feet. "No…"


    The warning sirens echoed through the halls, signaling one thing—


    A monster had breached the academy’s defenses.