𝘚𝘪𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘈𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘺.

Twelve.

"Why me?" she asked, her voice trembling with confusion and anger.

Kael's gaze met hers, unwavering and solemn. "Because you're more connected to this place than you realize," he said. "Your grandfather's legacy, the choices he made—they all led here, to you. You may think you're just an ordinary human, but your presence here is no accident. Silvermoon's secrets have been waiting for someone with your bloodline, your instincts. You are the key to unlocking what's been hidden for decades."

He paused, a shadow of regret crossing his face. "And now that you're here, there's no turning back. The academy knows, and so do those who seek its power."

"Be careful and remember I'm always here protecting you."

"Be careful, and remember—I'm always here, protecting you," Kael said, his voice low and steady.

Before Akira could respond, he stepped back, and the silvery moonlight seemed to wrap around him. In an instant, his form melted seamlessly into the shadows, leaving nothing but the rustling of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl.

Akira stood frozen, the echo of his words lingering in the cold night air. For the first time since arriving at Silvermoon Academy, she felt both a sliver of comfort and the daunting weight of responsibility pressing down on her. She took a shaky breath, her eyes drifting back to the glowing archway, knowing that whatever came next, she was no longer the same girl who had stumbled into this place.

Akira pressed deeper into the forest, confusion swirling in her mind and the unsettling sense of being watched pressing down on her. The path was dimly lit, cloaked in shadows that seemed to shift as she moved. Just when she thought she might be imagining it, a figure stepped out from behind a towering oak tree.

The girl looked older than Akira, with an air of authority that made the hairs on Akira's neck stand up. Her long red hair, streaked with silver, shimmered in the moonlight, and her skin was so pale it almost glowed. What stood out most were her eyes, a captivating mix of blue and red, mirroring Akira's own.

Hybrids were rare, creatures of mixed lineage with power that exceeded that of regular supernatural beings, and this girl was unmistakably one of them. Yet, despite her imposing presence, there was no malice in her expression as she stepped forward, the forest seeming to bow in acknowledgment of her approach.

"I was wondering when you'd make it this far," the girl said, her voice calm and resonant, like a distant storm. She paused, her gaze locking with Akira's. "You have more courage than most humans I've seen."

Akira's breath caught in her throat, a million questions vying for attention. "Who are you? Why have you been following me?"

The girl's expression softened, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "My name is Rowan. I'm here because someone needs to be. The forest has eyes, Akira, and not all of them are as friendly as mine."

Rowan took a step closer, her gaze assessing, almost protective. "You're walking a path that few survive. But there's more at stake than just your life, and you need to be prepared for what's ahead."

Akira swallowed hard, feeling a mix of fear and a strange, unexpected sense of safety in Rowan's presence. "Why me?" she whispered, unable to keep the tremor from her voice.

Rowan's eyes darkened slightly, the red in them glistening like embers. "Because the truth doesn't choose lightly, and neither do those bound to it."

Rowan exuded an air of mystery, but there was something about her presence that instantly made Akira feel at ease. Unlike the other supernatural beings she had encountered, who often felt threatening or elusive, Rowan radiated a sense of trustworthiness that drew Akira in.

Akira thought back to the wolf—Kael in disguise—who had promised to protect her. That encounter had left her bewildered, but Rowan's calm demeanor seemed to ground her in a way she desperately needed.

As she stood there, staring into the depths of Rowan's striking eyes, Akira couldn't shake the feeling that this girl held the answers to the questions swirling in her mind. Why did she keep finding herself surrounded by such unusual beings in the forest? Was there a purpose behind these encounters, or was she simply a pawn in a game she didn't understand?

For the first time since her journey began, Akira felt the flicker of hope that maybe—just maybe—Rowan would help her make sense of it all.

"Do you know the wolf? I saw him before I found you," Akira asked, curiosity piqued.

Rowan chuckled, a light, melodic sound that cut through the tension. "Oh, Kael? Yeah, he's my half-brother. He promised to protect you, right? Because if he didn't, I'd have to give him a piece of my mind."

"Oh, so that was your brother?" Akira replied, a mix of surprise and relief washing over her.

"Yeah," Rowan continued, her expression growing serious. "We both live in the forest. We ran from the academy, hoping they wouldn't find us here. But even in this sanctuary, the most sinister beings can lurk in the shadows."

Akira felt a chill at the thought, realizing that the dangers of Silvermoon Academy didn't just end at its gates.

"So everywhere I go there's just danger... I can never have peace, can I?" Akira sighed, the resignation in her voice echoing her sense of hopelessness. The weight of her circumstances pressed down on her, leaving her to wonder if she would ever find a safe haven from the turmoil that seemed to follow her relentlessly.

"Well you'd still be highly protected by my brother or me. You wouldn't have to worry. You're a very important cause to the Academy and the truth—we wouldn't let you get hurt."

"Well, you'd still be highly protected by my brother or me. You wouldn't have to worry," Rowan reassured her, a warm smile spreading across her face. "You're very important to the Academy and to the truth—we wouldn't let you get hurt."

Akira's curiosity piqued at Rowan's words. What did she mean by "important"? The weight of that statement lingered in the air, and Akira found herself wondering just what role she was destined to play in this unfolding mystery.