Enchanted University of Magemenos

Chapter 52: Caporaso?

"Why would someone follow you? Was it someone you know, or just a random encounter?" Nathan presses.

"I'm not sure," I say slowly. "It felt random, but something was off. He seemed so familiar, like a shadow from a past I can't quite place. There was something about him—his presence was oddly haunting." I pause, my eyes narrowing as I lock onto Nathan's. "And he had this way of moving, like he was almost... blending into the darkness."

Nathan's brow furrows. "Blending into the darkness?"

"Yes," I nod. "It was like he knew how to disappear and reappear at will. It's as if he's been lurking just beyond my sight, and now... wait..." I let the words hang in the air.

Nathan's eyes widen with concern as he sees me struggling. "What's happening? Do you know him?"

"Caporasso," I manage to gasp out, barely able to keep my eyes open.

"Huh?" Nathan's confusion deepens.

Suddenly, a sharp pain explodes in my head, forcing me to crumple to the ground. My hand presses tightly against my forehead, and my vision blurs as the world spins around me. Echoes of a voice reverberate in my mind, each repetition more insistent than the last.

"How did you do that? How are you doing it?" the voice demands, its tone both urgent and mocking. The words swirl around my consciousness, making it almost impossible to focus on anything else.

The voice was unmistakable—it was Caporasso.

The agony in my head was relentless, drowning out everything but his menacing tone. I could hear nothing else but his voice.

"How, Alyssa? How are you bringing that boy back? Tell me now, or I'll make sure your head bursts open!"

The pain was unbearable. I screamed as if my very insides were being ripped apart, my cries echoing through the chaos. Nathan stood by, his eyes wide with concern and confusion.

"I don't know! I don't know what you're talking about, which boy? Please stop, you're killing me!" I scream, my voice barely making it through the excruciating pain.

"Don't lie," Caporasso hisses, his voice dripping with menace. "I know you well enough. Tell me now, or I'll make sure to kill you, your friends, and Kate."

His threat strikes deep. He knows exactly how to hurt me, using Kate's name to amplify his cruelty.

"I really don't know," I manage to gasp, my voice trembling. "I don't even know how I ended up here." The words come out barely more than a whisper, each one feeling like a struggle to push through the overwhelming pain.

"You came here because of me. And about the boy—he's there because of you," Caporasso's voice echoes, and the pain suddenly lifts.

I focus on Caporasso in my mind, speaking silently to avoid drawing attention and appearing foolish.

Nathan's voice breaks through the haze. "Are you okay?"

I don't respond, my mind still locked in the conversation with Caporasso, blocking out the world around me.

"Keep this conversation secret. Don't reveal that you're from the human world, or that you've spoken to me. If you want to survive and achieve your goals, stay away from that boy. Stop meddling in his game. Remember this warning, and never forget it..." The voice trails off, leaving a lingering dread in the air.

I shout in my mind, "Caporasso! Why did you bring me here? What's your plan? Where are you?" My thoughts echo into the void, but there's only silence in reply.

The emptiness is unsettling. How did he manage to penetrate my thoughts like that? The realization hits me: this world is far more intricate and dangerous than I ever expected. The lines between reality and illusion are blurring, and I'm left grappling with questions and fears I can't yet answer.

"What happened? What were you speaking and to whom?" Nathan asks, his eyes sharp and probing.

I remember Caporasso's warning—he told me not to reveal anything. I brace myself, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Nothing. Just a migraine," I say, forcing a smile despite the lingering pain. "I was very tired after Marco Polo and didn't get a chance to rest. It's probably just the stress catching up with me."

"Are you sure about that?" Nathan presses, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.

"Yeah, sure," I reply, trying to sound convincing.

"Be honest, it's for your own good," he advises, his tone firm but concerned.

"Yeah, let's focus on the game now," I say, attempting to shift the topic away from the unsettling conversation.