The embers of the recent battle still smoldered as the academy staff worked tirelessly to repair the damage. The night had been long, filled with bloodshed and revelations, but Ethan knew one thing for certain—Aldric wasn't done. He had fled, but not in defeat. He was planning something, and Ethan had to be ready.
As dawn broke, Ethan sat in his dorm, bandaging his wounds. His body ached, his muscles screamed in protest, but his mind was sharper than ever. He had survived another assassination attempt, but that was just a small part of a much larger scheme.
The Grand Council was watching him. And now, there was another player in the shadows.
Seraphina's Warning
A soft knock at the door made Ethan tense. He reached for the dagger he kept under his pillow, but when the knock came again, he recognized the presence outside.
"Come in," he said, his voice steady.
Seraphina Nightshade stepped inside, her violet eyes scanning him from head to toe. She looked annoyed, but beneath it was a glimmer of something else—concern.
"You're reckless," she said, crossing her arms. "You should be resting."
Ethan chuckled, wincing slightly. "I don't have that luxury."
Seraphina sat down on the chair beside his bed, her usual cold demeanor softening just a fraction. "Aldric won't stop. He's obsessed, and that makes him dangerous."
"I figured that out after he sent assassins after me," Ethan muttered. "But it's not just him anymore. Someone else was watching last night."
Seraphina's gaze darkened. "Who?"
"I don't know yet," Ethan admitted. "But whoever it was… they were strong."
She was silent for a moment before exhaling. "My family has received word that the Grand Council is investigating you. If they decide you're a threat, they won't hesitate to act."
Ethan's jaw tightened. The Grand Council had always loomed like a specter over the world's strongest Awakened. If they saw him as a problem, his fights so far would seem like mere skirmishes compared to what was coming.
"I never asked for their attention," Ethan said. "But if they come for me, I'll deal with them."
Seraphina shook her head. "You're insane."
Ethan smirked. "Maybe. But it's worked so far."
She sighed but didn't argue further. Instead, she pulled something from her pocket and tossed it to him. Ethan caught it and examined the small, silver pendant.
"It's enchanted," Seraphina explained. "It will alert me if you're in danger."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Worried about me?"
She scoffed. "Hardly. But if you die, the academy will be even more of a mess, and I don't want to deal with that."
Ethan chuckled, pocketing the pendant. "Whatever you say."
The Hunt Begins
With the academy still recovering, the professors decided to cancel classes for the day. But Ethan wasn't interested in resting. He needed to gather information.
He found Serene Aldridge in the library, surrounded by stacks of books. When she saw him, she raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't you be in bed?"
"Shouldn't you?" Ethan countered. "You fought just as hard last night."
Serene smirked. "True. But I heal faster than you."
Ethan sat across from her, glancing at the open books. "What are you looking for?"
She hesitated before answering. "Information about the masked figure that was watching us."
Ethan leaned forward, intrigued. "Find anything?"
Serene nodded, sliding a book toward him. "There have been whispers of an organization operating from the shadows. They aren't tied to any guild or kingdom, but they've influenced events for centuries."
Ethan read the passage she pointed to, his eyes narrowing. The organization had no official name, but they were known by a title that sent chills down his spine.
The Eclipsed Hand.
A Deadly Message
Before Ethan could fully process the information, a loud knock echoed through the library. A student rushed in, his face pale.
"Ethan! You have a message. It was left at your dorm."
Ethan exchanged a look with Serene before standing up. The two of them made their way back to his room, only to find a single letter resting on his desk.
Ethan picked it up, unfolding the paper. The handwriting was elegant but laced with malice.
"Your resilience is amusing, but it's time to stop playing. You have three days to leave the academy, or we will bury you beneath it.
- The Eclipsed Hand"
Ethan's grip tightened around the letter. A slow smirk spread across his lips.
"They think I scare that easily?"
Serene's expression was serious. "Ethan, this isn't a joke. If they're real, they're not just some small-time assassins."
Ethan looked at her, his eyes filled with cold determination. "Good. Because I'm done with small-time enemies."
He tossed the letter onto the desk and turned toward the window, staring out at the academy grounds.
"If they want a war," he murmured, his voice laced with steel, "I'll give them one."
To be continued…