Elemental Eclipse

🌻Chapter Nine: Part One; Dark Secrets🌻

As soon as morning hit Rachael was bounding out of her room and across campus to Professor Konto's greenhouse, the strange monster rock heavy in her jacket pocket.

She found the door to the Greenhouse locked and started to bang on the door urgently. "Professor! It's really important!"

The door opened after a minute to reveal Kontos, looking at her with surprise. "Rachael, I wasn't expecting to see you this morning. Is something the matter? I've never seen you so riled up."

"Yeah, sorry. But I need your help with something." Rachael says, out of breath from running across campus.

"Of course! Come inside, and we'll see what we can do." Kontos says taking a step back to let her inside before closing the door behind her.

Rachael reaches into her pocket to pull out the rock, jumping in surprise at how ice cold it felt.

"My goodness! What in the world is the matter, Rachael!" Kontos says.

"Someone-...someone told me I had to bring this to you!" Rachael says, pulling out the red rock and set it down on the desk.

Kontos leaned in to look at hit closely, his mouth dropping and he jumped backwards knocking into his desk. He quickly reached for his pan flute and played a single out note. A bolt of electricity shot down from the ceiling hitting the rock and bouncing off, unchanged.

"What'd you do that for?" Rachael asks confused.

He turned back to her eyes wide with fear. "Where did you get that from? Is this supposed to be some kinda threat!?"

"Threat?! I've never threatened anyone in my life. It's a rock! How can a rock be threatening?" Rachael gasps.

"Don't you understand what that is?" Professor Kontos asks.

"No! That's why I brought it here! I got attacked by some kinda shadow creature thingy, and when it died, it left that rock behind! If I knew what it was I wouldn't have asked!" Rachael huffs, she was so lost and confused this was just making it worse.

"A shadow creature? What are you talking about?" Kontos asks contorting his face in confusion.

"Please, Professor, I'm just looking for answers!" Rachael pleads.

He seemed to relax a bit, but narrowed his eyes at her. "What you've brought me is an object of incredible evil, and there's no reason you should have it. Why exactly should I trust you?"

"Because you know me. I'm the same clueless Rachael who's in your class every week! I promise I only came here to learn more about that rock." Rachael says.

He hesitantly moved towards her again, trying to appear calm. "I am sorry, Rachael. You just caught me off guard. I've never seen one of those in the flesh before. Only in textbooks. It just startled me, that's all. Now, what is this about a shadow creature attacking you? Nothing should be able to get through the wards. Have you reported it to administration? More importantly, are you alright?"

"I'm fine. I just want to know what this rock is." Rachael says.

"It is not important. A trifle really. An essence is nothing a student like you needs to worry about." Kontos sighs.

"So it's called an essence! Do you know what it's used for?" Rachael asks. 

"Rachael, this is not a matter up for discussion." Kontos says with authority. "Trust me, learning more could be dangerous."

"But there are evil shadowy monsters after me! Professor Kontos isn't it your duty to protect me?! By keeping me in the dark, you're just putting me more at risk!" Rachael huffs, crossing her arms.

"Rachael, not knowing more will protect you." Kontos says.

"But that's-" Rachael pouts.

"No buts, Rachael. I've already said too much." Kontos sighs.

"You barely told me anything!" Rachael huffs, her frustration getting the best of her.

"And that's the way it should be. If you understood your situation, you'd be afraid, not looking for answers." Kontos explains.

"You're right, I don't understand at all! I'm in over my head! This is all so scary. What if next time one of those creatures shows up I can't fend it off?" Rachael says, her face falling into a frown.

"Rachael, I can't imagine what you're going through. It must be terribly frightening. But that's precisely why you need to leave it to me. I will ensure the situation is handled." Kontos sighs, looking down at her.

"I don't get why you can't just tell me about the essence. What's the harm in knowing about it?" Rachael asks.

Kontos opened his mouth to speak, before closing it again quickly. "It's safer to just leave it be, and let us professors worry about it."

"Okay...I just hope you can do enough...so far nothing seems to have stopped these attacks." Rachael sighs.

He sighed and put a supportive hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Rachael. Just focus on your classes, and I'll take care of the rest."

"Are you sure there's nothing else you can tell me about the essence?" Rachael asks, hopefully.

"I'm sorry, Rachael, but I can tell you aren't ready to learn this information. There's nothing more I can say on the matter." Kontos sighs. "Now, I think it's best if you return to your dorm. I am very busy, after all."

Rachael reaches for the essence, but he grabbed her arm before she could get to it.

"I'll be holding onto this." Kontos says, putting it in his top drawer.

"But it's mine-" Rachael grumbles.

"I can't allow you to walk around with such a dangerous object. The less you have to do with it, the safer you'll be." Kontos says ushering her out of the greenhouse. "I don't know what you've gotten involved in, Rachael, but you must stay out of it. This is a matter for us professors to handle. You are meddling with evil beyond your powers. For Blood magick to be used in such a way..."

"So Blood magick is used to make these monsters!" Rachael smiles at the confirmation.

"I-er... Forget I said anything on the matter!" Kontos corrects quickly. "But keep these words, Rachael. For your own safety, do not investigate any further."

He pushed her out of the greenhouse and shut the door before she could even comprehend what had happened.