The Long Way Back | Lady Lesso

Chapter 25

The days following the confrontation with the darkness were unnervingly quiet, as though the school itself was holding its breath. But the silence wasn't peace—it was tension, a thin veneer of calm before a storm.

You found yourself in the library, poring over dusty tomes with Anya at your side. The dim candlelight flickered against the high stone walls, casting long shadows across the room. Every book you pulled down seemed to echo the same ominous sentiment: the force threatening the school was not new, and it would not be easily defeated.

"This thing isn't just some dark spell," Anya said, her voice hushed as she flipped through a particularly old volume. "It's...it's alive."

You frowned, your gaze skimming over an illustration of a roiling black mass that looked unsettlingly familiar. "What does that mean? Alive?"

"It feeds on imbalance," she explained. "Good versus Evil, light versus dark. It thrives on the chaos between them, and if it gets strong enough, it consumes everything—both sides, all magic."

You closed the book, the weight of its warning sinking in. "So it doesn't just want to destroy us—it wants to erase us."

Before Anya could respond, the library door creaked open, and a familiar figure swept in. Lady Lesso's crimson cloak trailed behind her, her presence commanding as ever. But as your eyes met hers, you noticed the weariness etched into her features—the subtle slump of her shoulders, the slight dullness in her usually piercing gaze.

"Y/N," she said, her voice steady but quieter than usual. "A word."

You exchanged a quick glance with Anya before following Lesso out of the library. She didn't speak as she led you down the hallways, her steps brisk but lacking their usual sharp precision.

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When you reached her office, she closed the door behind you and leaned against her desk, crossing her arms.

"You've been researching the darkness," she said, her tone more curious than accusatory.

You nodded. "I need to understand what we're up against."

Her lips pressed into a thin line. "You're too stubborn for your own good."

"That's why I fit in so well here," you countered, a small smirk tugging at your lips.

For a moment, her expression softened, a flicker of amusement breaking through the tension. But it didn't last.

"This thing is getting stronger," she said, her voice heavy. "It's probing our defenses, testing our limits. Soon, it will push further."

"What are we doing to stop it?" you asked, your frustration bubbling to the surface. "We can't just sit here waiting for it to make the first move."

Lesso sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Do you think I don't know that? Do you think I haven't been trying to—" She cut herself off, her tone sharpening. "This isn't as simple as a battle. This is something far older, far more dangerous than anything you've faced."

Her words stung, but you held your ground. "Then teach me. If this thing is coming for all of us, I want to be ready."

She looked at you, her gaze unreadable. For a long moment, neither of you spoke, the tension between you thick enough to cut with a knife. Then, finally, she pushed off the desk and stepped closer.

"You're already too close to this," she said, her voice quieter now. "And to me."

Her words sent your heart racing, though you weren't sure if it was from the closeness or the meaning behind them.

"I don't care," you said, your voice steady despite the turmoil inside you. "I'm not afraid of the darkness, and I'm not afraid of—"

"Stop." Her hand lifted, hovering between you. "You should be."

You swallowed hard, searching her eyes for some clue as to what she was thinking. For once, they didn't seem as guarded. There was something else there—concern, maybe even fear.

Before either of you could say more, a knock at the door broke the moment. Professor Dovey stepped in, her golden aura a stark contrast to the dim room.

"Lesso," she said, her gaze shifting between the two of you. "We need to talk. Now."

Lesso's expression hardened instantly, her walls snapping back into place. "Y/N, you're dismissed," she said, her tone cold again.

You hesitated, wanting to argue, but the look in her eyes left no room for negotiation. With a reluctant nod, you left the office, the door closing firmly behind you.

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Inside, Dovey didn't waste time.

"You're running yourself ragged," she said, her voice both gentle and firm.

"I don't have time for this," Lesso snapped, turning away.

"You don't have time to ignore it, either," Dovey countered, stepping closer. "I've seen how this is affecting you—how it's affecting her."

Lesso froze, her back stiffening. "This isn't about Y/N."

"Isn't it?" Dovey asked, her tone pointed. "You care about her, Leonora. More than you're willing to admit, even to yourself."

Lesso turned to face her, her expression icy. "What I feel—or don't feel—for her is irrelevant. My focus is on protecting this school, not on—"

"On letting yourself feel something human?" Dovey interrupted, her voice softening. "You're not invincible, Leonora. And neither is she. If you keep pushing her away, you'll lose her—and not just to the darkness."

For a moment, Lesso didn't respond. She stared at Dovey, her jaw tight, her hands clenched at her sides. Finally, she spoke, her voice low.

"I can't afford to be weak."

"Caring isn't weakness," Dovey said gently. "It's strength. And you need every bit of it if we're going to face what's coming."

Lesso's gaze dropped, her usual sharpness faltering. She didn't answer, but the silence spoke volumes.

Dovey sighed, resting a hand on her friend's shoulder. "You don't have to do this alone, Leonora. Let her in—let someone in. Before it's too late."

Lesso didn't respond, her gaze fixed on the floor. But as Dovey left the room, she finally allowed herself a moment of vulnerability, her hands trembling as she leaned against the desk.

She couldn't ignore the truth any longer. The darkness wasn't the only battle she was fighting—and she wasn't sure which one scared her more.