The Long Way Back | Lady Lesso

Chapter 24

The air in the School for Good and Evil grew colder, heavy with an unspoken dread that neither side could ignore. The trees of the Endless Woods trembled under an unseen weight, their branches blackened as though drained of life. It was clear that the darkness Professor Dovey spoke of was no ordinary threat.

You stood at the edge of the school's main courtyard, gazing toward the looming forest. Though the sky was clear, shadows seemed to flicker at the edges of your vision, too quick to pin down.

"Y/N."

Lady Lesso's voice pulled you from your thoughts. She approached from behind, her crimson cloak flowing like blood spilled across stone. You hadn't realized she'd been watching you, but the concern in her eyes was impossible to miss.

"You're distracted," she said, coming to stand beside you.

"It's hard not to be," you admitted. "Whatever's out there...it feels like it's getting closer."

Her gaze followed yours toward the woods, and for a moment, her sharp, unflinching expression softened. "It is," she said plainly.

You turned to her, your pulse quickening. "Then why aren't we doing more to stop it? Why are we waiting?"

"Because this isn't something we can fight head-on," she said. "Not yet. Whatever this force is, it's older than either of these schools. It doesn't just threaten Good and Evil—it threatens the balance itself."

Her words left a chill running down your spine. You searched her face for something—reassurance, certainty—but instead, you saw something you hadn't noticed before: exhaustion. There were faint lines under her eyes, her usual sharpness dulled ever so slightly.

"Are you okay?" you asked, your voice softening.

Lesso's lips curved into a faint smirk, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'm not the one you should be worrying about," she said.

But you did worry. You'd seen how much of herself she gave to this school, to her students, and now to this growing threat. It wasn't just her responsibility—it was her burden. And for reasons you couldn't quite articulate, you hated seeing her bear it alone.

Before you could say more, a loud crack echoed through the air, like a branch snapping under enormous pressure. Both of you turned sharply toward the woods. The shadows at the edge of the trees shifted, coalescing into a writhing mass that seemed to pulse with malevolence.

"It's testing the boundaries," Lesso muttered, her jaw tightening.

"What do we do?" you asked.

She stepped forward, her crimson cloak billowing behind her. "We send a message."

With a flick of her wrist, dark magic surged from her fingertips, arcing toward the shadows like a streak of lightning. The energy struck the mass, and for a moment, it recoiled, splitting apart into smaller fragments. But instead of retreating, the fragments began to reform, growing larger and more defined.

Lesso cursed under her breath, her usually unshakable composure cracking just slightly. "It's stronger than I thought."

You stepped up beside her, your own magic sparking to life. "Then let me help."

"No." Her response was immediate, her tone cutting.

You hesitated, stung by her sharpness. "I can handle it—"

"I said no." She turned to you, her eyes blazing. "This isn't just another trial or test, Y/N. This thing isn't playing by the rules. If it touches you—if it takes you—I don't know if I can bring you back."

Her words hung in the air, heavier than the tension pressing down on the school. The fire in her eyes wasn't just anger—it was fear.

"I'm not going to stand here and let you face it alone," you said, your voice firm.

Something in her expression shifted, a flicker of vulnerability breaking through her usual steel. For a moment, she looked like she might argue, but instead, she sighed, the fight draining from her shoulders.

"Stay close to me," she said finally, her voice quieter but no less commanding.

Together, you sent wave after wave of magic toward the encroaching darkness. The two forces collided, the air crackling with energy. The mass writhed and screeched, its shape shifting as though searching for a weakness.

After what felt like an eternity, the shadows began to retreat, dissolving back into the treeline. The forest fell silent once more, but the tension lingered like a bad taste in the air.

Lesso lowered her hand, her breathing uneven. You could see the strain in her posture, the way her fingers trembled slightly before she clenched them into a fist.

"Are you sure you're okay?" you asked again, stepping closer.

She didn't answer immediately, her gaze fixed on the treeline. Finally, she turned to you, and for the first time, her walls seemed to crack.

"I can handle myself," she said, though the words lacked her usual conviction.

"Lesso..."

The way you said her name—soft, concerned—seemed to disarm her. She looked at you, really looked at you, and something unspoken passed between you.

Before you could overthink it, you reached out, your fingers brushing against hers. She didn't pull away. Instead, her hand turned, her fingers curling around yours.

For a moment, the world outside the school faded away. The darkness, the threat, the fear—it all seemed distant, overshadowed by the warmth of her touch and the intensity of her gaze.

"You don't have to do this alone," you said quietly.

Her grip on your hand tightened ever so slightly, and for the briefest moment, you thought she might let her guard down completely. But then, just as quickly, she released you, stepping back.

"I can't afford to be distracted," she said, her voice cooler now.

You swallowed the disappointment that rose in your chest, nodding. "I understand."

But as you turned to leave, you felt her hand brush against your arm, stopping you. When you looked back, her expression was softer, more vulnerable than you'd ever seen it.

"Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

You nodded, your heart pounding as you left the courtyard.

As you walked away, you couldn't help but feel the shift between you and Lady Lesso—something unspoken, fragile, and growing. But even that wasn't enough to overshadow the ominous feeling lingering in the air.

The darkness wasn't gone—it was waiting. And whatever came next, you knew it would test everything: your magic, your courage, and the bond forming between you and Lady Lesso.