Winter was about to ask her about what she saw when our professor came
The magic classroom shimmered with energy. Walls lined with ancient tomes pulsed faintly under enchantments, and chalk floated midair, sketching runes across the blackboard. Professor Lurien stood at the front, her presence commanding.
"Today marks the start of your most important project this term," she began, her voice echoing with a subtle enchantment. "You will craft a magic staffa channel of pure arcana. Not alone. You will be working in groups, each assigned a unique type of staff. Choose your leaders wisely."
The students straightened in their seats. Some smiled; others tensed.
Lurien waved her fingers, and scrolls of parchment floated to each table, unrolling midair with a flourish.
---
Group 1 – Shadowlight Staff
A staff that balances the forces of darkness and light, capable of teleportation, light-based barriers, and shadow stepping.
Jeremiah Bainbridge
Keisha Mayie Van Hanss
Ella Lim
Felia Owen Herrera
Axel Devuncheek
Rosette Miyumi
Jeremiah leaned back with a smirk. "Shadowlight? Now that's something dramatic."
Keisha tapped her fingers against her wand. "Light for me."
"I'll study shadow magic," Jeremiah offered. "But only if Ella doesn't blow us up."
Axel already had a design in mind, sketching twin orbs black and gold. "We'll blend both perfectly."
---
Group 2 – Chrono Staff
Time-based staff with abilities to slow, rewind, or momentarily glimpse into the future. Dangerous, unstable if misused.
Kaesy Dane Seneca
Celsy Rielle De Obelia
Charline Oneida
Mary Julieth Taylor
Riyami Yuuki
Harvie Deogracia
Kim lovie
Kaesy blinked. "Chrono magic? That's... actually awesome."
Celsy flipped through a book of time sigils. "We'll need to layer enchantments carefully."
Riyami cracked her knuckles. "Let's try not to get stuck in a loop."
Harvie grinned. "Or do. That could be fun."
---
Group 3 – Nature Staff
Harnesses the essence of the natural world plant control, beast summoning, and healing properties.
Khierra Sky Smith
Winter Briaella Cross
Micko Lee
Justin Pritz
Aella Reeze Wilson
Chezka Slovack
Rey Vien Windsor
Aella touched a small seed pendant at her neck. "This feels... right."
Winter, intrigued but silent, watched the others with narrowed eyes. Khierra and Micko discussed intertwining art with functioncarving a staff that grew leaves when activated.
Justin blinked. "I thought we were doing something cool like explosions?"
Chezka gave him a dry look. "Nature can explode. In vines."
---
Group 4 – Illusion Staff
Creates visual, auditory, and mental illusions. Can bend light and sound to deceive and manipulate perception.
Ynah Blair
Velia Lair Luther
Leslie Tamayo
Jhenny Sailish
Ruscell Montenegro
Avrille Lentz
Rheem Rosie Clain
Ynah clapped. "Illusion! This is our jam."
Ruscell played a light melody on his guitar. "Let's enchant it to project visions with music."
Jhenny grinned. "Can we make it summon fake monsters?"
Velia spoke softly, "Let's make the illusions so real… they question what's real."
---
Group 5 – Elemental Staff
Commands fire, water, air, and earth. A classic, but only stable in balance.
Theodore Janssen
Chrisha Van Dele
Cora Millie Clifton
Carl Perez
Rachelle Hampton
Rayah Denise Van Goh
Theodore's eyes gleamed. "Elemental magic. Straightforward, yet complex."
Cora nodded thoughtfully. "We'll need crystals to attune to each element."
Chrisha twirled her wand. "Let's start with fire and go from there."
Carl mumbled, "Hopefully no one burns the classroom."
---
Professor Lurien stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over the students. "Each staff will reflect not only your power but who you are. Craft with care... and caution. The forest watches."
The last words sent a chill down some spines.
And somewhere in the depths of the school beneath forgotten halls and sealed chambers something ancient stirred.
The following morning, a notice appeared on each group's door, sealed with the shimmering emblem of Elitia Academy:
> To All Staff-Crafting Teams:
You are permitted one expedition to gather your materials. Use your time wisely. Report to the Arcane Yard by sunrise.
– Professor Lurien
By dawn, the Arcane Yard buzzed with life. Students stood in clusters, satchels packed, scrolls clutched tight. The rising sun cast golden rays across the enchanted gate that would lead them out.
---
Group 1 – Shadowlight Staff
Destination: The Duskmire Caverns
Professor Lurien handed Jeremiah's group a dark map glowing faintly with silver and obsidian markings. "Your crystal lies deep in Duskmire Caverns. You must retrieve a twin core one of shadow, one of light. They must not touch until the staff is complete."
Rosette glanced at the map. "Looks cursed."
Axel grinned. "We've got this."
Inside the cave, flickering orbs floated above their heads as they followed the eerie silence. Keisha and Rosette separated the paths light and dark until they reached twin altars where a radiant orb and a dark crystal pulsed in sync.
Jeremiah reached for the dark one, his hand steady.
At that moment, a shadow flickered behind them.
"Did anyone else… see that?" Ella whispered.
---
Group 2 – Chrono Staff
Destination: The Rift of Echoes
Kaesy's group traveled through a twisted glade to reach a strange rift where time flowed unevenly. Trees grew backward, rivers flowed in loops.
"The Timeflower should be blooming right about... now," Celsy whispered, pointing at a silver blossom unraveling in reverse.
Harvie stuck his hand out and instantly aged a year. "Okay, that's terrifying."
"Stay in the anchor circle," Mary instructed, placing stones carved with stabilizing runes.
Kaesy stepped forward and carefully plucked the flower as Riyami and Charline held the temporal field steady.
They barely made it out before the rift sealed behind them.
---
Group 3 – Nature Staff
Destination: The Sylvaran Grove
Khierra led her group into the sacred forest behind the academy, where trees whispered and the wind hummed like an old song.
"The Heartroot Tree is near," Winter murmured.
Micko paused to sketch the glowing vines while Aella harvested soft bark.
Aella knelt at the tree's base, murmuring something in an old tongue. Slowly, the bark shifted, revealing a core of emerald-green wood.
Rey placed his hand gently on the tree. "Thank you."
A soft breeze passed, almost like a blessing.
---
Group 4 – Illusion Staff
Destination: The Mirror Hollow
Ynah's group entered a shimmering glade of standing mirrors. Each reflected not only the present, but alternate versions of the viewer.
"Woah," Ruscell said, staring at a reflection where he wore armor.
"Stay focused," Velia said firmly.
They were to collect Whisperglass, a rare shard that could trap light and sound.
Avrille found it embedded in a mirror that showed... no reflection.
"It's empty," she whispered.
Jhenny stepped forward. "Or it's showing what's coming."
They pried the shard out, and the reflection cracked whispers filled the air, fading as they ran.
---
Group 5 – Elemental Staff
Destination: The Fractured Plateau
Theodore led the group across jagged terrain where fire cracked beneath stone, wind howled in tunnels, and water gushed from glowing crevices.
"We need to collect one crystal from each element," Cora read from her notes.
Chrisha and Rayah summoned controlled fire from their palms to temper the fire crystal. Carl almost slipped trying to get the air crystal from a high cliff, but Rachelle caught him with a levitation spell.
"We work surprisingly well together," Chrisha admitted, half-smiling.
The moment they gathered the last crystal, the earth trembled briefly.
---
Back at the academy, the students returned, bruised, tired, and filled with stories.
But three groups are missing kaesy Dane Seneca's group, Jeremiah's group and Theodore Janssen's group.
As the sun set, worry was evident in the students face because some of the Alphas haven't comeback yet and they know the danger outside the academy.
And none of them knew… something had followed one of the groups back.
Something watching.
Something waiting.