Aarin was late for History of Magic.
Again.
He rushed through the halls, books tucked under his arm, robe half-tied. The academy was a maze—one moving staircase here, one shifting wall there. It was like the castle enjoyed watching him get lost.
By the time he reached the classroom, the door was already shut.
He knocked.
"Come in, Mr. Vale," said a bored voice from inside.
Aarin opened the door slowly. The classroom was shaped like a circle, filled with floating quills and enchanted scrolls. The teacher, Professor Wynter, was as thin and pale as a ghost, and probably just as friendly.
"You're five minutes late."
"Sorry, sir. The—uh—staircase moved again."
The professor raised an eyebrow. "They always do. Plan better."
Aarin nodded and quickly sat down beside Finn, who whispered, "At this rate, you'll be known as the guy who never arrives on time."
Aarin sighed. "Great legacy."
Professor Wynter waved his hand, and a glowing image appeared in the air. It showed a large symbol—a circle surrounded by stars.
"This," he said, "is the Crest of the Starlight Order—an ancient group believed to protect magical balance thousands of years ago."
Aarin leaned forward.
"The order vanished after the Celestial War," Wynter continued. "But legends say one of their bloodlines survived. Hidden. Waiting."
Aarin's rune tingled under his shirt. The same feeling he had in the illusion trial.
"Some say," the professor added, "that the heir of the Order could awaken ancient powers—powers that could bring peace… or destruction."
Someone behind Aarin scoffed. "It's just a bedtime story."
Professor Wynter smiled thinly. "Isn't all history just bedtime stories we stopped questioning?"
After class, Aarin followed the hallway but turned the wrong way—again.
He ended up in a quiet corridor with no windows and walls lined with strange glowing symbols. A heavy wooden door stood at the end.
It didn't look like a place students should be.
Which, of course, meant Aarin walked straight toward it.
He pushed the door slowly. It creaked open.
Inside was a room full of dust, shadows, and shelves so tall they vanished into the ceiling.
A library.
But not like the regular one.
Books here floated on their own. Some whispered. One had teeth.
"Whoa," Aarin breathed.
He stepped inside.
Then he heard a voice behind him.
"You really can't help yourself, can you?"
He turned. Lyra stood in the doorway, arms crossed.
"You followed me?" she asked.
"I got lost."
She raised an eyebrow. "Into a secret library?"
He shrugged. "I'm very bad at maps."
She sighed but didn't look angry.
"This is the hidden wing," she said. "Most students don't know about it."
"How do you know about it?"
She smiled. "I've been here longer than you think."
Aarin looked around. "Why are you here?"
She walked over to one of the shelves and pulled out a thick, dusty book.
"I'm looking for answers," she said.
"About what?"
She hesitated, then said, "Do you believe in the Starlight Order?"
Aarin nodded slowly. "I think… I might."
She looked at him. Her face was serious now, no jokes.
"I think I'm connected to them," she said quietly.
Aarin's heart skipped.
"You?"
"My family... we don't talk about it. But my mother—before she disappeared—used to draw the crest. Over and over."
"Do you think you're the heir?"
"I don't know," she said. "But I've been having dreams. And strange things happen around me."
She looked at her hands.
"Magic that shouldn't be possible."
Aarin stepped closer. "That's why you act like nothing matters."
She met his eyes. "Because if I believe it's true… I might not be safe."
He nodded. "You're not alone."
She blinked. "Why do you keep saying things like that?"
"Because I mean them."
She looked away, then smiled sadly. "You really are the dumbest brave person I've ever met."
Suddenly, a loud crack echoed through the room.
A book flew off the shelf, glowing bright blue. It hovered in front of them, pages turning on their own.
A glowing map appeared across the room wall. It showed a forest with silver trees and a tower in the center.
"That's it," Lyra whispered.
"What is?"
"My dream. That place."
The book slammed shut and dropped.
Footsteps sounded in the hallway.
"Someone's coming," Aarin said.
Lyra grabbed his hand. "We have to go."
They ran out the back door just before a teacher entered from the other side.
Back in the courtyard, Aarin and Lyra stopped to catch their breath.
"That was close," he said.
She was still holding his hand. She noticed and quickly let go.
"Don't get used to that."
He laughed. "No promises."
Lyra looked at him, serious again.
"You don't have to be involved in this, Aarin. Whatever's happening… it's dangerous."
"I know," he said. "But I'm already in."
She studied him for a moment.
"Okay, Cow Poet," she said. "You're in."
That night, Aarin couldn't sleep. He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
The Starlight Order.
The dreams.
Lyra.
Something bigger was unfolding. He could feel it.
And now, he was part of it.