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**Chapter 3: Shadows Looming**
The tension of detention hung in the air as Amara and Ash sat across from each other in the dimly lit classroom. The silence was thick, punctuated only by the faint ticking of a clock. Amara couldn't help but steal glances at Ash, who was casually leaning back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Enjoying this?" she asked, crossing her arms defiantly.
"Honestly? A little," he replied, his purple eyes gleaming with amusement. "Where else can you sit so close to a legendary light wielder without being attacked?"
"Legendary? Don't flatter yourself," Amara shot back, trying to maintain her composure.
As the minutes dragged on, the conversation shifted to playful jabs. "You know, if you spent as much time training as you do annoying me, you might actually get better," Amara teased.
"Annoying you is my training," Ash retorted, a grin on his face. "And besides, I think I'm doing just fine."
"Fine? You call this fine?" Amara gestured around the empty classroom. "We're stuck here because of you!"
"Me? You're the one who nearly blinded me with that light show!" he countered, leaning forward with mock seriousness.
"Only because you pushed me! If you didn't have such a big mouth, we wouldn't be in this mess," Amara shot back, her frustration boiling over.
"Maybe if you could take a joke, we wouldn't have to deal with this," Ash replied, crossing his arms.
Before they could escalate the argument further, the door creaked open, and Mr. Vale stepped in. "I expect no more magic tricks from you two. You're here to learn control, not to showcase your powers."
"Control is overrated," Ash quipped, earning a sharp look from Mr. Vale.
"Enough," he said firmly. "You'll each write a reflection on what you've learned about teamwork. Start now."
As Mr. Vale walked away, Amara turned back to Ash, her irritation bubbling beneath the surface. "You know, if you spent less time being a nuisance and more time focusing, you might actually learn something."
"Learning from you? Now that's a joke," he shot back, smirking.
Suddenly, a strange chill swept through the room. The lights flickered, and shadows began to stretch unnaturally across the walls. Amara's heart raced. "Do you feel that?"
"Yeah, and it's not just my charm," Ash said, standing up. "Something's off."
Before they could process what was happening, the lights went out completely, plunging the room into darkness. Moments later, they flickered back on, glowing an ominous red. The bells rang out like a fire alarm, drowning the air in panic as screams echoed from the hallway.
"What is happening?" Amara yelled, her pulse quickening.
"Let's find out!" Ash replied, rushing to the door.
As they stepped into the hallway, the chaos unfolded around them. Students rushed past, their faces pale with fear. Amara squinted through the red-tinted light, catching sight of a dark figure darting away down the corridor.
"There! Did you see that?" she exclaimed, pointing.
"Is this your doing?" Amara snapped, her anger flaring.
"Hey, I'm not the only one who can wield shadows!" Ash shot back, frustration clear in his voice.
"Great! So we have more than one shadow user to deal with?" Amara huffed, her annoyance rising.
"Focus, Amara!" Ash urged, pushing forward. "We need to get to safety."
With their arguments temporarily set aside, they pushed through the throng of students, hearts racing as they tried to make sense of the chaos.---
YOU ARE READING
Storm Within
Fantasía**Storm Within** Amara is a fierce light wielder, battling not only the shadows around her but also the dark secrets threatening her family. When she learns her parents are dying from mysterious injuries, she must navigate her growing powers and the...
