Snow:
It covered the ground. It suffocated everything beneath it and froze what was above it. Darkness came early. The night was now damp and cold. It was heavy and frosty like metal. Winter had not visited Valnery since the Battle of Light twenty-five years ago. If there had been any doubt of it before, there was none now. The Shadows were definitely coming.
Cold Winds:
The hallways of the School of the Stolen looked similar to a sea of wool. Everywhere, students and teachers were bundled up in jumpers, scarves and mittens. The rooms were all heated but in the open corridors, cruel winds were able to sneak in and nip at the students.
"This is getting out of hand."
"Yeah well tell me how to stop it?"
"You know I'm not the brains of this operation!"
"Oh so you're the brawn? That worries me but thanks for the help."
"Hey! I'm not Big Brain."
"Well at least I'm not like Thief Boy."
"Awwww... you know you love me..."
Lucky snorted at James' last statement. But something twanged in her heart. She did love him. She shook her head to get that last though out as they walked into their Elementell Magics class. Their Magic of Earth project was due next lesson and they hadn't even started.
"James! Don't forget that we're in the Library at lunchtime. I'm meant to be helping you with your Scrying essay." Echo called as she passed the classroom. She didn't take Elementell Magics with them. James groaned at the thought of finishing the cursed essay.
"Sure thing, Echo!" He called back. Turning around, he found that Lucky had quietly made her way to a seat and was staring out the window at the frost-covered grounds. She looked sad for some reason.
"Hey." James said softly.
"You realise that grounds have been covered with snow for the last month? It started snowing the night I...came back from my flight. James we have to do something; tell someone, do anything."
"And what are we meant to do? How about we talk with the Headmaster and Headmistress at lun..."
"You got yourself lunchtime with Echo." Lucky's voice sounded bitter, even to her own ears.
James blinked with confusion. "Why not tonight after lessons then?" Lucky shrugged, suddenly feeling as though everything rested on her shoulders.
"Lucky I know you're tired. We'll find a way to do something. I promise."
The Thief's Library:
It's not called the School of the Stolen for nothing. Everything in it was stolen by The Thief – a Rogue who traveled Valnery and stole from villages. He never stole too much but over time, he collected many objects. With the money from selling his stolen things he built the School as a mansion for himself. He loved books and most of his loot were leather-bound volumes. As he sat in his library, he realised how lonely he was. So he welcomed children to it to learn.
Wide wooden beams created colossal arches. Set in these arches were windows of coloured Fliestone made into compass roses. Echo sat at a mahogany desk beneath her favourite one. Onto the polished brown wood was a reflected image of a yellow rose. Its edges were brushed with the pink of dawn and shamrock green arrows shot outwards from its heart to point the way.
Slumped on the floor, along with a mountain of books, was James. "Echo I can't do this!" He cried, provoking a "shhh" from his Scrying 'tutor'. Groaning, he rolled onto his front and looked at his half-finished paper on Mercuri Mirrors – a rare mirror made of a rare metal that was boring James to tears. His quill scratched at the paper he was writing it on. The Big Bell rang through the school and James was out the Library's great doors in seconds.
In the Thief's Library, Echo rose from her desk. Quietly, she moved down the aisles of books she came to one that was pushed up against the wall. Standing in front of it was a figure wrapped in a cloak. It was of fine material and the hood was pulled up so that it framed his face.
"You promised me that Lucky would be gone! Now, they're traipsing all over the school and they know that something's wrong. I trusted you for a reason." The stranger's voice was rough as sandpaper and seemed to scrape at Echo's skin.
"Tell your Shadows that we welcome them. Even prepared, the School cannot stand against them." Echo said curtly. Turning on her heel she stormed out of the library.
