The Prophecy

Chapter VI

Daylight mercilessly invaded the room, forcing whoever slept there, with great difficulty, to open the eyes that insisted on remaining closed for a while longer. Outside, it wasn't raining anymore, everything was quiet, just like in the bedroom. When Nixon finally made it, he looked around and noticed that everyone was still lying down, except for Kianna, who was sitting at one of the tables staring at her birthmark as if she wanted to rip it off. As soon as she noticed that the boy was awake and looking at her, she looked at him wearily and, in a weak attempt to smile, said good morning.

Nixon got up, stretching and moaning in pain from the position in which he had slept, and walked over to the girl, sitting on the edge of the bed. Suddenly Kianna held her head in both hands and, sighing, asked him about the entity that had led Lilly to protect them the day before.

"They're waiting for us...", said Nixon listlessly. "Drayden told us about a legend..."

"Zabinne also told us. But it can't be us... can it?"

Nixon stared into Kianna's dark eyes, which were once again urgently searching for answers. A lump formed in his throat. He wanted to be able to answer all her questions, but he couldn't. Something in his mind wouldn't let him respond. He didn't know what to tell her, he was transfixed by distant memories of uncertain certainties, memories of a dark and deadly future... And then he remembered the vision he'd had shortly after the Kelpie's attack... And those eyes... Those dark eyes as a moonless night... that day they gazed affectionately at Nihiil's...

Suddenly, all his thoughts were interrupted by someone knocking on the bedroom door urgently. Everyone was surprised by the noise and Nixon got up opening the door that showed him the furious professor Sallow on the other side and Lilly huddled behind her, as if she were a three-year-old shy to meet an adult.

"First day at Hokulani and already breaking the rules?", she grumbled. "Girls, get your rooms dressed! I want you down there in fifteen minutes, the director is waiting for you."

The three girls who had slept in the boys' dormitory rose and, with their heads bowed, walked past Sallow without saying a single word. Lilly followed them and Patrick tried to leave unnoticed, however, the professor stopped him.

"I was expecting more from you, Mr. Miller. Don't you think you get away with it!"

Patrick finally left and Sallow closed the door after giving the boys the same directions she gave the girls. So the boys put on their costume and went down to the entrance floor, where the girls were already there talking to Zabinne. They looked at each other observing the garments they wore and it was impossible not to feel ridiculously uncomfortable in such garments. Still, they all sat on one of the benches in the hallway talking, until Lilly interrupted them.

"Finally we are all! Come on, my grandfather can't wait any longer", said Lilly, who went to the opposite wall and, touching three stone blocks on the wall, opened a crack, from which granite stairs rose.

They followed the child in silence, although everyone's nervousness was quite noticeable in all of them. Drayden and Zabinne accompanied them as well, perhaps for the punishment they would have to take for breaking the rules, but Patrick was nowhere to be seen, so it was odd that the two of them followed the fugitives.

When they finally made it up the stairs, a closed arched wooden door rose in front of them. Lilly didn't hesitate and knocked on the door three times, and seconds later it opened, inviting them inside. So they did. One by one they calmly entered and easily realized they were in the principal's office.

The cabinet is a circular place. It clearly corresponds to the part of the dome that can be seen from the outside, but larger. Much bigger than what it's seen from the outside. All around were the various skylights, separated by bookshelves, and on the vaulted ceiling, a representation of the constellations caressed their eyes as if it were already night and they saw the stars in the middle of a field. Stairs rise to a kind of balcony in the transition between the end of the wall and the beginning of the ceiling, on one side. On the other, another wooden door is closed, hiding the mysteries the director doesn't want to be known. Finally, in front of them is a table full of papers, but the chair behind it is empty.