Descendants: The rise of red

Beware of the owl

It was a moonless night, and the stars were hidden behind a veil of thick clouds. Ella, with her blonde hair tied in a ponytail and dressed in a black silk cloak that concealed her figure, stealthily slipped out of the house, careful not to wake her stepmother. Her heart pounded in her chest as she walked through the deserted streets, heading towards Merlin Academy. She would do anything to achieve her goal: winning Charming's attention.
Ella had hesitated at first, but the temptation had been too strong. That night she would take the book. She would change her life.
Merlin Academy, shrouded in darkness, seemed more sinister than usual. Ella stopped in front of the main gate, which creaked open ominously as soon as she touched the cold metal surface. Inside, the garden was silent, the only sound the rustling of the wind through the trees' leaves. She moved forward slowly, trying to ignore the chills running down her spine.
Merlin's study was in the tallest tower of the academy, protected by enchantments that no ordinary student could ever break. But Ella had a goal, and nothing would stop her.
She crossed the courtyard and climbed the stone stairs of the tower. When she reached the door of the study, she paused for a moment, hesitating. In front of her, the tall carved wooden doors loomed like silent giants. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and turned the handle.
The door opened slowly, revealing the interior of the study. It was a vast and ancient room, filled with shelves crammed with dusty books and strange magical objects. But what immediately caught her attention was the book. Merlin's ancient tome, resting on a marble pedestal in the center of the room, emitted a mystical aura. Ella took a step forward, but something moved in the shadows.
One of the steel armors adorning the walls suddenly came to life, turning its head toward her with a sinister creak. Its empty helmet stared at her, as if it were watching. Then, with a metallic noise, the armor took a step forward. Ella stifled a scream and backed away, desperately searching for an escape.
Before she could react, another armor moved, blocking her exit. She was trapped. Panic overwhelmed her for a moment, but then she remembered the image of Charming giving that bouquet of flowers to Bridgette, that dirty traitor, and she wondered how much that girl really meant to her.
Ella looked toward the center of the room. The marble pedestal with the book... That had to be the book Morgana had spoken of. She had to reach it.
Summoning all her courage, she dashed toward the book, dodging a strike from the armor that tried to grab her. But just as she was about to touch the pedestal, a stone owl with glowing eyes detached itself from a niche in the wall. With a flap of its wings, it swooped down on her, pecking furiously.
Ella ducked just in time, feeling the wind from the owl's wings above her head. She didn't know how to stop it, but she had to be quick. Desperately, she looked at the pedestal, searching for a clue. Then she saw it: a small inscription on the side, an ancient magical symbol Morgana had shown her before she left.
With trembling hands, she touched the inscription and whispered the words the witch had taught her. Immediately, the armors stopped, and the owl fell to the ground as if it were a child's toy. Ella breathed heavily, incredulous that she was still in one piece.
Finally, she could grasp the book. She felt it vibrate slightly in her hands, as if it contained a power beyond her understanding. But it wasn't the time to think about that. She had to get out of there.
She slipped out of the study, clutching the book to her chest. The stairs seemed longer than usual as she ran down them, her heart pounding furiously. She exited the tower, crossed the courtyard, and without stopping to catch her breath, she hurried away from Merlin Academy, disappearing into the night.
Now all that remained was to deliver the book to Morgana. And the love potion would be hers. But as she walked towards the meeting place, a doubt crept into her mind. Had she done the right thing?