𝘚𝘪𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘈𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘺.

Eight.

The day of the Silvermoon formal arrived, and the academy was abuzz with excitement. Students hurried through the hallways in gowns and suits, laughter echoing through the air. Akira watched from the window of her dorm room, feeling a mix of curiosity and reluctance. Part of her felt disappointed for not going, but the warnings from Nara and Amara lingered in her mind.

A gentle knock on her door pulled her from her thoughts. It was Amara, dressed elegantly in a dark, shimmering gown. Behind her, Nara leaned against the doorframe, her smile reassuring.

"Changed your mind about skipping the formal?" Akira asked looking over at the girls who were all dressed up.

Nara and Amara shook their head. "No maybe we just wanted to skip it this year. You definitely made the right choice of not going especially not with Lucian." Nara told Akira.

Amara's gaze softened. "He probably has his reasons, but believe me, Akira, you're better off not getting tangled up with him. Not tonight, and maybe not ever."

Nara nodded in agreement. "Besides, you've got us. Why don't we do something together instead? The formal can be a bit... too much and besides we do it every year now that you're here maybe we can do something different for a change."

Akira smiled, feeling a sense of relief. "I'd like that. Just us."

The three of them left her dorm and wandered through the quieter parts of the academy, sharing stories, laughing, and letting the strange tension of the night slip away. Yet, as they passed by a large arched window overlooking the academy's courtyard, Akira caught a glimpse of Lucian, standing alone outside the hall, his gaze distant. She felt a twinge of unease but quickly looked away, telling herself that she'd made the right choice.

Whatever secrets Lucian held, she would uncover them on her own terms—without risking herself in his shadow. And with Nara and Amara by her side, she felt, for once, that she was exactly where she was meant to be.

"We're going to go to the bathroom come with us?" Nara asked.

"I'll stay here and wait up you guys go." Akira told the two girls.

"Fine stay here." The girls walked to the bathroom and Akira stood outside the darkened hallway.

Akira leaned against the wall, glancing around the dimly lit hallway as she waited for Amara and Nara to return. Shadows danced along the walls, and a faint chill settled in the air. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling creeping up her spine.

Then she saw him—Lucian. He was standing just a few feet away, watching her with a calm, unreadable expression. His presence sent a shiver down her spine, but there was something oddly captivating about the way he held her gaze. For a moment, she considered ignoring him, but her curiosity got the better of her.

"Lucian," she greeted cautiously, her voice barely a whisper.

He tilted his head slightly, his eyes dark and intense. "Skipping the formal, are we?" he asked, his voice low and smooth, carrying an edge of mystery.

Akira hesitated, remembering Nara and Amara's warnings. "Yeah, I decided it wasn't my thing."

Lucian took a step closer, the dim light casting shadows across his face. "Sometimes the most interesting things happen when you're away from the crowd. You might be surprised what you find when you step into the unknown. Be careful."

Akira swallowed, sensing there was more he wanted to say. "Why did you invite me, Lucian? You barely know me."

He smirked, a hint of something unspoken lingering in his gaze. "Maybe that's why." Then, he glanced over her shoulder toward the bathroom, where Amara and Nara would be returning any second. "Be careful who you trust, Akira. Not everything at Silvermoon is as it seems."

Before she could respond, Lucian turned and disappeared down the hallway, leaving her alone in the darkness, his words echoing in her mind.

What did he mean by that? She wanted to ask him sure questions but he vanished just like that. The girls walked back out looking over at Akira.

Akira blinked, still processing Lucian's cryptic warning. She wanted to chase after him, to demand answers, but he was already gone—vanishing as quickly as he'd appeared.

"What's up?" Nara asked, noticing Akira's unsettled expression as she and Amara returned from the bathroom.

Akira hesitated, glancing down the empty hallway where Lucian had stood just moments before. "Oh nothing..haha just scary waiting here all by myself maybe I should've gone with you guys."

The girls smirked and looked at one another. "Maybe."

they took her out to the dark garden and showed her around. There was more to see that she barely even noticed coming to the Academy.

As they stepped into the darkened garden, Akira felt a chill in the air that had nothing to do with the temperature. Shadows stretched across the ground, cast by towering trees and twisted vines that framed the garden paths. The girls led her down a narrow stone pathway, their footsteps nearly silent on the damp earth.

Amara pointed toward a cluster of peculiar, dark flowers glowing faintly under the moonlight. "These are called 'Midnight Blossoms.' They only bloom at night, and legend has it they carry memories of those who've passed through Silvermoon's gates."

Akira leaned closer, feeling the faint pulse of energy emanating from the flowers. "Memories? Like... spirits?"

Nara nodded, a mysterious glint in her eye. "Sort of. Some say if you listen closely, you can hear whispers from the past."

They continued deeper into the garden, where a dark pond lay surrounded by smooth stones. Amara gestured toward it. "This pond is called the Veil Mirror. They say if you look into it on a full moon, you can catch glimpses of... hidden truths."

Akira shivered, the eerie beauty of the garden drawing her in yet making her feel wary. "Is that what Lucian meant? About things not being as they seem?"

The girls exchanged a glance. "Maybe," Nara replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "There are a lot of stories about this place, Akira. And sometimes, those stories are closer to the truth than you'd think."

Akira looked around, feeling both unsettled and intrigued. The garden was beautiful, but it held secrets—secrets she was only beginning to uncover.