Unspoken Shadows

The Weight of Shadows

The air in the dorm was thick with the smell of old books and the faint scent of hot chocolate simmering on the stove. Late fall had settled in, and with it came a cold that seemed to seep into Lavi's bones. He sat at his desk, surrounded by stacks of textbooks and notes, but his mind felt foggy. Midterms were looming, yet he found it increasingly difficult to focus on his studies.

Lavi's eyes drifted to the window, where the gray sky threatened snow. Outside, leaves had fallen, leaving the trees bare, their skeletal branches clawing at the sky. He remembered how vibrant the campus had looked just weeks ago, but now, the world felt dull and lifeless—much like his own sense of self.

He picked up a textbook and flipped through its pages, but the words blurred together. He had spent countless nights grappling with the revelations of the tome about the vampire clans he had found in the library. Though he felt an overwhelming connection to the ancient texts, the realization that he was the "missing" prince of all vampires left him grappling with a profound sense of identity crisis.

As he stared blankly at the textbook, memories of the tome filled his mind. It had described the lineage of powerful vampire families, their intricate politics, and the tragic tale of a prince forgotten by history. Lavi's heart raced each time he considered the possibility that the prince mentioned in the book was, in fact, him. He wasn't missing; he had simply been forgotten, lost to the annals of time.

"Lavi?" Allen's voice broke through his thoughts. Lavi turned to see his roommate leaning against the doorframe, concern etched on his face. "You okay? You've been quiet."

"Yeah, just... studying," Lavi replied, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. He set the textbook down, unwilling to admit how far from focused he truly was.

Allen walked in and plopped down on the edge of Lavi's bed, eyeing the mess of notes scattered around the room. "It doesn't look like studying. It looks like you're drowning in paper."

Lavi chuckled weakly, but the sound felt hollow. "Maybe I am."

"Want to take a break? We can grab some hot chocolate," Allen suggested, his tone light but his eyes serious.

Lavi hesitated, knowing that the more time he spent away from his books, the closer midterms loomed. But the thought of spending time with Allen felt like a lifeline. "Sure, why not?"

As they made their way to the small kitchen, Lavi felt a flicker of warmth within him. But as they poured steaming mugs of cocoa, the storm inside him swirled more violently. Allen filled the silence, discussing his study plans for the upcoming week, but Lavi's mind remained miles away.

"I'm just... worried about everything," Lavi finally admitted, his voice low.

"About midterms?" Allen asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Not just midterms," Lavi replied, looking down at his mug. "It's just... everything feels off. Since I found that book, I can't shake the feeling that I'm missing something important about myself."

Allen's expression softened. "You've been through a lot, Lavi. It's normal to feel overwhelmed."

"Is it normal to feel like you're connected to something so much bigger than yourself?" Lavi shot back, frustration lacing his words. "What if I'm not just Lavi? What if I'm that prince? What if everything I thought I knew is a lie?"

"I can't imagine how tough that must be," Allen said softly, his gaze steady. "But you're still you. No book can change that."

Lavi wanted to believe him, but the turmoil inside him was like an unrelenting tide. "But what if that book changes everything? What if I'm connected to all those vampire clans and I don't even know it?"