Echoes of Betrayal

Chapter Twenty-six Karyna

Lyra and I sat in our dorm, the soft glow of Ember, her phoenix, casting warm, flickering light across the room. I glanced down at the delicate necklace around my neck, feeling the gentle pulses of energy from Azzie and Adrenna. They had become my familiars, and their presence was a constant source of comfort and strength.

"So," Lyra began, a playful smirk on her lips as she scratched Ember's feathery head, "how does it feel to have not one, but two spirits guiding you?"

I chuckled, reaching up to touch the pendant. "It's... amazing, honestly. Azzie and Adrenna are incredible. They've already helped me so much."

In my mind, I could feel Azzie and Adrenna stirring, their voices intertwining with my thoughts.

Azzie: "Incredible, yes. And yet, she still can't manage to confess her feelings to Alexander."

Adrenna: "Maybe we should handle it for her. It's getting painful to watch."

I rolled my eyes, a small smile tugging at my lips. "You two know that I can hear you, right?"

Lyra looked at me curiously. "What did they say?"

"Oh, nothing," I replied, trying to sound casual. "Just teasing me about Alexander."

Lyra raised an eyebrow, a knowing grin spreading across her face. "You really should just tell him how you feel, Karyna. It's obvious you both care about each other."

I sighed, leaning back against my bed. "I know. It's just... complicated."

Azzie: "Complicated? Please. You've faced much worse. Telling a boy you like him should be a piece of cake."

Adrenna: "Exactly. If I could manifest physically, I'd push you two together myself."

I couldn't help but laugh at their antics. Lyra gave me a curious look, but before she could press further, there was a knock at the door. Alexander's voice called from the hallway, "Karyna, are you in there?"

My heart skipped a beat. "Come in!"

Alexander entered, his usual confident smile faltering slightly as he saw us. "Hey, I wanted to talk to you about something. Do you have a minute?"

I nodded, feeling a sudden flutter of nervousness. "Sure, what's up?"

He glanced at Lyra and then back at me. "Actually, it's something I think we should all see. There's a hidden room I found in the academy. It's... important."

Lyra and I exchanged puzzled looks before following Alexander out of the dorm. As we made our way through the winding corridors of the academy, my mind raced with possibilities. What could he have found that was so significant?

We finally reached an old, rarely used wing of the academy. Alexander led us to a seemingly ordinary wall and, with a quick incantation, revealed a hidden door. We stepped inside, and I gasped at the sight before us.

The room was filled with dusty tomes, ancient relics, and various dark artifacts. But what caught my eye were the journals piled haphazardly on a desk in the center. Alexander picked up one of the journals and handed it to me, his expression grim.

"Read this," he said softly.

I opened the journal, my eyes scanning the pages. As I read, horror washed over me. The journal detailed Lady Violet Stormwood's plans—how she had been using her position at the academy to control the relics and spirits for her own gain. She was a necromancer, manipulating life and death to increase her power.

"This... this is unbelievable," I whispered, looking up at Alexander. "She's more dangerous than we ever imagined."

Azzie: "And she's been right under our noses this whole time."