Blade institute: the unseen prophecy

32

The walk to the bus station was surreal. The sun had long since set, and the town was quiet, its streets empty save for the occasional passerby who paid me no mind. I had spent two months in this place, hiding from the world, searching for answers. Now, I was leaving it behind, armed with knowledge that could either save or destroy me.

As I boarded the bus that would take me back to the Institute, I couldn't help but feel the weight of everything that had happened—the lies, the betrayal, the revelation of who and what I was. I found a seat near the back and settled in, the book still clutched in my hands like a lifeline. I didn't know what awaited me at the Institute, but I was ready to confront it.

The bus ride was long and uneventful, giving me plenty of time to think. I opened the book again, re-reading the prophecy, trying to glean any additional insight from the words that had so thoroughly shaken my world. The idea that I was the culmination of centuries of magic and trauma, the last of a bloodline cursed with unimaginable power, was still difficult to grasp. But I knew now that running from it wouldn't change anything. I had to face it head-on.

My thoughts drifted to Ethan and Rian, to the friends I had left behind in anger and confusion. Ethan had come to find me, to apologize, to try and make amends. But his betrayal still stung, and I wasn't sure if I could ever trust him again. And Rian... I wasn't ready to think about him yet. The wound was too fresh, too raw.

As the bus pulled into the station near the Institute, I felt a sense of unease settle over me. This place had once been my home, a sanctuary where I could learn and grow. Now, it felt like a battleground, a place where I would have to fight for the truth, for my identity, and for my future.
——
The Institute loomed in the distance as I walked up the winding path leading to its entrance. The familiar sight of its stone walls, the tall towers, and the grand gates did little to comfort me. The last time I had been here, I had left in a storm of anger and betrayal. Now, I was returning with the weight of a prophecy that could change everything.

As I pushed open the heavy doors and stepped inside, I was immediately struck by how quiet it was. The usual bustle of students and staff was absent, the hallways eerily still. My footsteps echoed off the marble floors as I made my way to the Headmaster's office, my heart pounding with anticipation and dread.

When I reached the office, I didn't hesitate. I knocked once, then pushed the door open without waiting for a response. The Headmaster looked up from his desk, his expression unreadable as he took in the sight of me standing there, holding the book that had once belonged to Ethan's mother.

"Evangeline," he said, his voice calm but guarded. "You've returned."

I stepped inside, closing the door behind me. "I have questions," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil I felt inside. "And I want answers. No more lies, no more half-truths. I need to know everything."

The Headmaster nodded slowly, as if he had expected this. "I understand," he said. "You've learned about the prophecy."

I nodded, my grip on the book tightening. "The Last Daughter," I said, the words tasting bitter in my mouth. "That's who I am, isn't it? The last of my bloodline, the one who's supposed to bring despair and destruction."

The Headmaster leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving mine. "It's true that you are the last of your line," he said. "But prophecies are not always set in stone. They are warnings, possibilities, not certainties."

"Possibilities?" I repeated, my voice rising with anger. "The prophecy says I'm destined to bring about the end—to destroy everything. How is that just a possibility?"

The Headmaster's gaze softened slightly, but it didn't comfort me. "Because you have the power to choose," he said. "The prophecy speaks of your potential, of the darkness that surrounds you. But it is up to you how you use that power. You can choose to embrace the darkness, to let it consume you, or you can fight against it."

I stared at him, my mind reeling. "Fight against it?" I echoed. "How am I supposed to fight something that's a part of me? How am I supposed to control this power when I don't even understand it?"

The Headmaster stood, walking around his desk to stand in front of me. "That is why we've been trying to protect you," he said. "To give you time to grow, to learn, to prepare for the day when you would have to face this truth."

"But you didn't tell me," I shot back, my voice trembling with anger. "You kept me in the dark, let me believe I was just another student, while all this time you knew what I was—what I could become."

The Headmaster sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "We made a mistake," he admitted. "We thought it would be better for you to live without that burden for as long as possible. But in doing so, we may have underestimated the strength of your spirit, your ability to face the truth."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside me. "And what about Ethan? Rian? Did they know too? Were they part of this lie?"

The Headmaster hesitated, and that was all the answer I needed.

"Ethan found out before he came here," he said slowly. "But he was sworn to secrecy by me, by the Institute. He didn't want to keep it from you, but he was afraid of losing his place here, of losing the future he had worked so hard for. As for Rian... his role was different. He was tasked with keeping an eye on you, with reporting back to me about your progress. He was never supposed to get close, never supposed to become emotionally involved."

My heart clenched at his words, the betrayal cutting deeper than ever. "And yet he did," I said quietly. "He got close. And now I don't know what to believe—about him, about anyone."

The Headmaster reached out, placing a hand on my shoulder, but I pulled away, the anger flaring up again. "Don't," I said sharply. "I'm not here for your apologies or your excuses. I'm here because I need to understand what's happening to me—what I am."

The Headmaster nodded, lowering his hand. "You are the last daughter of a powerful and ancient bloodline," he said. "A bloodline that has been hunted, cursed, and feared for centuries. Your power is immense, but it is also dangerous. The darkness that surrounds you is a part of that power, and it will try to consume you if you let it. But you are stronger than that, Evangeline. You have the strength to control it, to use it for good, if you choose."

I looked down at the book in my hands, the weight of it heavy in my grip. "And what if I can't control it?" I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper. "What if I'm not strong enough?"

The Headmaster's eyes softened, filled with something that looked almost like compassion. "Then we will help you," he said. "You are not alone in this, Evangeline. We will do everything we can to guide you, to help you understand your power and how to use it. But in the end, the choice is yours."

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. The choice was mine. The power was mine. And so was the responsibility. The darkness that had haunted my family for generations, that had shaped me into who I was, was now mine to confront. But how? How could I possibly choose the right path when every option seemed fraught with danger and uncertainty?

Before I could respond, the door behind me creaked open, and I turned to see Rian standing there, his expression conflicted, his eyes filled with an emotion I couldn't quite decipher.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice low. "For everything."

I stared at him, my heart a tangled mess of feelings—anger, betrayal, hurt, and something else, something that refused to let go, even after everything that had happened.

"Sorry doesn't change what you did," I said, my voice hard.

"I know," Rian said, taking a step closer. "But I want to help you. I want to make things right."

I didn't know if I could trust him. I didn't know if I could trust anyone. But as I stood there, the book heavy in my hands, the weight of the prophecy pressing down on me, I realized that I couldn't do this alone.

"Then help me," I said quietly, meeting his gaze. "Help me understand who I am and what I'm supposed to do."

Rian nodded, his eyes filled with determination. "I will," he promised.