The Eclipse Society

Prolouge

In the dimly lit corridors of Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a young witch hurried along, her footsteps echoing softly off the stone walls. Clutched in her hand was a small, intricately carved box, its surface adorned with ancient runes that glowed faintly in the darkness.

Lyra Thorne had been a promising student, always curious, always brave. But tonight, her courage was being tested to its limits. She could feel the presence behind her, a shadow that moved with a silent, deadly grace. She didn't have much time.

She slipped into a hidden alcove and pressed a sequence of stones on the wall. The stones shifted, revealing a hidden chamber. With a quick glance over her shoulder, Lyra entered and sealed the entrance behind her.

Inside, the chamber was lined with shelves of ancient tomes and artifacts. In the center stood a pedestal, upon which she placed the carved box. The runes on the box glowed brighter, responding to the proximity of the chamber's magic.

Lyra took a deep breath and began to chant an incantation, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her heart. As the words left her lips, a protective barrier formed around the pedestal, safeguarding the box.

Just as she finished, the entrance to the chamber exploded inward. Lyra turned, her wand at the ready, to face the dark figure stepping through the smoke and debris. A voice, smooth and sinister, echoed in the chamber.

"You've been quite the troublemaker, Miss Thorne. Hand over the artifact, and I might let you live."

Lyra stood her ground. "You'll never have it. This power is not meant for you."

The figure laughed softly, a sound that sent chills down her spine. "Brave words. But bravery won't save you."

As the figure raised his wand, Lyra cast a final, desperate spell. The chamber filled with a blinding light, and in that moment, Lyra vanished, leaving behind only the protective barrier and the carved box.

The dark figure cursed and withdrew, knowing that the artifact was now beyond his reach. For now.

Far away, in the bustling heart of New York City, Ethan Thorne, Lyra's older brother and a seasoned Auror, awoke with a start. A sense of foreboding washed over him, an instinct honed by years of hunting dark wizards. He knew something was terribly wrong.

Little did he know, his sister's final act of defiance would set him on a path that would lead him back to Ilvermorny, to face shadows both old and new.