𝘚𝘪𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘈𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘺.

Thirty two.

The next day dawned cool and quiet, the early morning mist curling like a shroud around the Silvermoon grounds. Akira found herself alone just outside the academy's sprawling dormitories. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and pine, and for a moment, she enjoyed the solitude. It was rare, with Rowan and Renetta constantly hovering like protective shadows. But now, she could breathe—or at least attempt to.

As she leaned against a weathered stone wall, lost in thought, a figure emerged from the fog. Akira straightened instinctively, her senses sharpening. The woman stepped closer, her presence commanding and deliberate. She was tall and elegant, with an aura that seemed to draw the shadows around her like a cloak.

"Akira," the woman greeted, her voice smooth and deliberate, laced with a tone that hinted she already knew everything about her.

Akira narrowed her eyes, immediately on guard. "Who are you? And how do you know my name?"

The woman smiled faintly, her dark eyes glinting with something unreadable. "A friend. Or perhaps... an ally. You can call me Rosaria." She stepped closer, her movements fluid, as if the very air bent to accommodate her. "I've been waiting for this moment, Akira. To speak with you. To offer you answers."

"Answers?" Akira repeated, her voice skeptical. "I don't even know who you are. Why would I listen to anything you have to say?"

Rosaria's smile didn't falter. "Because I know the truth about you. About your family. About what you're meant to become."

Akira stiffened, her heart racing despite herself. "What are you talking about?"

"Your grandfather," Rosaria said, her tone softening slightly, as though she knew the weight of her words. "He was more than just the headmaster of Silvermoon Academy. He was its foundation, its legacy. And you, Akira, are his heir. You were always meant to take his place."

Akira stared at her, confusion and anger flickering across her face. "That's impossible. If that were true, someone would have told me. Rowan, Renetta, Marcella—"

"They're shielding you," Rosaria interrupted, her voice firm but not unkind. "They're trying to protect you from the truth, thinking it's too much for you to handle. But they don't understand what you're capable of. What your bloodline truly means."

Akira took a step back, her hands clenching into fists. "Why should I believe you? I don't even know you."

Rosaria tilted her head, her expression calm and unwavering. "Because deep down, you've felt it, haven't you? The pull, the connection to this place, to something greater than yourself. That's not coincidence. That's your legacy calling to you."

Akira hesitated, her mind a whirlwind of doubt and curiosity. "What do you want from me?"

"I want to help you," Rosaria said simply. "To prepare you for what's to come. Whether you like it or not, Akira, your destiny is already in motion. But the choice of how you embrace it—or whether you do at all—will always be yours."

Akira's gaze wavered, her defenses cracking just slightly. "Why now? Why come to me like this?"

Rosaria stepped closer, her voice lowering to a near whisper. "Because there are others who would rather see you fail. They fear what you could become. And if you don't learn to harness your potential, they'll destroy you before you even have a chance to fight back."

Akira stared at her, a storm of emotions churning within her. For all the mistrust she felt, there was something about Rosaria's words that resonated—something she couldn't ignore.

"Think about what I've said," Rosaria continued, her dark eyes locking onto Akira's. "When you're ready to hear the full truth, I'll be waiting." Without another word, she turned and disappeared into the mist as quickly as she had appeared, leaving Akira standing alone, her heart pounding and her mind spinning.

Later that day, Akira sat with her friends in the bustling cafeteria, picking at her lunch absentmindedly. The usual chatter and laughter of students filled the air, but her mind was elsewhere, replaying every word the strange woman—Rosaria—had said to her that morning.

Rowan and Renetta were deep in conversation about their next training session, but Akira barely registered their voices. Her thoughts were tangled in questions she couldn't answer, a mix of doubt, curiosity, and unease gnawing at her.

"Akira?" Rowan's voice broke through her haze, pulling her back to the present.

She blinked, realizing all eyes at the table were on her. "Huh? What?"

"You've been spacing out," Renetta said, raising an eyebrow. "What's on your mind?"

Akira hesitated, glancing around the table. She opened her mouth to speak, but the weight of Rosaria's words held her back. "It's nothing," she said quickly, forcing a small smile. "Just tired, I guess."

Rowan didn't look convinced, but she didn't press the issue. "Alright," she said, though her tone was laced with suspicion. "But if something's bothering you, you know you can tell us."

Akira nodded, but her thoughts were far from the cafeteria. As much as she wanted to confide in them, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was something she had to figure out on her own—for now.

"You know you can talk to me about anything, right?" Rowan said gently, her sharp eyes studying Akira's face. It was clear to her that something was wrong, and she wasn't going to let it slide this time.

Akira paused, her fork frozen midway to her mouth. The weight of Rowan's gaze pressed on her, and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "I know," she said softly, her voice barely audible over the clatter of the cafeteria.

"Then what's going on?" Rowan pressed, leaning in slightly. "You've been out of it all day. This isn't like you."

Renetta, catching on, put her drink down and turned to Akira. "Rowan's right. You've been distracted since this morning. Did something happen?"

Akira hesitated, torn between sharing the truth and keeping Rosaria's visit to herself. Her instincts told her that talking about it could complicate things—especially if Rosaria's intentions were as serious as they seemed.

"It's... nothing important," Akira finally said, trying to sound convincing. "Just a lot on my mind with the training and everything."

Rowan didn't buy it. She crossed her arms, her expression firm. "Akira, you're terrible at lying. Whatever it is, you don't have to deal with it alone. Let us help."

Akira looked between Rowan and Renetta, guilt gnawing at her. They were only trying to help, and here she was, shutting them out. Before she could respond, however, the cafeteria doors swung open with a loud creak, and an eerie silence followed as a woman entered.

It was Rosaria.

Akira's blood ran cold as she spotted the woman gliding into the room with an air of authority. Her dark, piercing eyes scanned the crowd until they landed on Akira. A faint smile played on her lips as she began walking toward their table, her presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room.

"Who's that?" Renetta whispered, her tone wary.

"I don't know," Rowan said, but her hand instinctively moved to her pocket where she kept her enchanted blade.

Akira's heart pounded as Rosaria stopped in front of their table, her gaze unwavering. "Akira," she said, her voice smooth and calm, yet carrying an undeniable edge. "We need to talk."

Rowan immediately stood up, positioning herself protectively between Akira and the stranger. "Who are you, and what do you want with her?"

Rosaria's smile didn't waver as she met Rowan's defiant stare. "Relax, little one. I mean no harm. I'm simply here to have a word with Akira. It's... important."

Akira, feeling the weight of everyone's eyes on her, slowly rose from her seat. "It's okay," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "I'll hear her out."

"Are you sure?" Renetta asked, her tone full of concern.

"I'll be fine," Akira assured her friends, though she wasn't entirely convinced herself.

Rosaria gestured toward the door, and without another word, Akira followed her out of the cafeteria, leaving behind a table of worried friends and a storm of questions.