Page 7

Kaia

I've never seen Bob look so stressed. My normally unflappable shadow commander is practically vibrating as he tries to maintain order among the others.

He's formed what looks like a tiny shadow clipboard and is checking off some kind of military roster while shooting disapproving glances at Carl, who's currently doing somersaults across the ancient stone floor.

The Celestial Chamber lives up to its name—all soaring columns and hushed whispers, with enchanted constellations spiraling across the domed ceiling and whispers clinging to the stone like smoke.

Recording crystals float near the ceiling like silent judges, their facets catching the ethereal light as they track our every movement.

Patricia, true to form, has manifested what appears to be a shadow notebook and is taking furious notes.

Finnick and Carl, clearly bored with the proceedings already, have started what looks suspiciously like a game of shadow tag behind Lady Virath's chair.

Mouse perches on my shoulder, his violet eyes tracking everything with ancient calm .

"The council will now review the evidence from the arena incident," Elder Thaddeus announces, his voice echoing through the chamber like thunder in a cavern. One of the recording crystals descends, projecting images that make my stomach twist.

There I am, suspended in midair as my wings unfurl for the first time—shadow and light intertwining as my power surged against Thorne's corruption.

The memory slams into me: the searing pain of transformation, the sudden awareness of centuries of history flowing through my veins, the desperate need to protect my shadows. My sisters.

"As you can see," Lady Virath rises, her white robes seeming to glow against the darkness, "the display of power was... concerning." Her cold gaze fixes on me, clinical and calculating. "The question before us is simple: can we trust someone who commands an army of shadows?"

Mouse presses against my neck, a low growl building in his throat that only I can hear. Behind Lady Virath, Finnick pauses his game long enough to make a very specific gesture that has Bob practically dissolving in horror.

"If I may," Lira steps forward, her voice steady. "I've worked with Kaia extensively. Her control over her abilities—"

"Control?" Lady Virath interrupts, one perfect eyebrow arching. "Is that what we witnessed in the arena? When her shadows multiplied without warning, when her power shattered our wards?"

The Heart of Eternity pulses warm against my chest, responding to my rising anger. I force myself to breathe, to stay calm as my shadows coil tighter around my feet.

"Those wards," Malrik's voice cuts through the chamber like ice, "were already compromised by Thorne's corruption." He rises from his seat, silver eyes gleaming with dangerous light. "Or did the council miss that detail in their... thorough review?"

Lady Virath's perfect composure cracks slightly. "Prince Malrik, this matter concerns—"

"The Shadow Faction?" His smile is sharp enough to draw blood. "Precisely my point. We've allowed fear of shadow magic to blind us to its true potential. Kaia's power isn't a threat, it's proof that we've been mishandling our approach to shadow manipulation for generations."

Bob, apparently sensing an opportunity, creates what can only be described as a shadow presentation board.

Patricia immediately starts filling it with evidence of my training progress, while Finnick adds what he probably thinks are helpful illustrations.

I say probably because what he's currently drawing is. .. well... anatomically creative.

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing, even as my heart races. Malrik stands before the council like he was born for this moment, all royal bearing and barely contained power. My shadows ripple in response, drawn to his confidence like moths to flame.

"The Shadow Faction," Lady Virath recovers smoothly, straightening her already perfect robes, "currently lacks leadership to make such assessments. Unless you're offering to fill that role, Prince Malrik?"

"Actually," Malrik steps forward, and something in his stance makes my shadows ripple with interest, "I am. The faction needs leadership that understands both the politics of power and the nature of shadows themselves."

The chamber erupts in whispers. Even Elder Thaddeus looks taken aback, his bushy eyebrows disappearing into his hairline. "This is highly irregular—"

"What's irregular," Malrik cuts in, "is how long we've allowed fear to dictate our approach to shadow magic. The corruption in Absentia spreads while we debate semantics and protocol."

Lady Virath's eyes narrow. "You speak of corruption, yet propose no solution."

"Don't I?" Malrik glances at me, and something in his expression makes my heart skip.

His silver eyes hold mine for a moment too long, something fierce and protective flashing in their depths.

"We have a Valkyrie whose power bridges light and shadow.

We have an ancient realm in need of cleansing.

Perhaps instead of fearing what we don't understand, we should prove our worth to lead. "

"A challenge then?" Lady Virath's smile turns predatory, all teeth and no warmth. "Enter Absentia. Face its corruption. Prove that your... unique abilities serve the academy's interests."

"Both of us," Malrik says before I can respond. "My claim to lead the Shadow Faction. Kaia's place at the academy. Let Absentia itself judge our worth."

The Heart of Eternity pulses warm against my chest, and for a moment I swear I hear my mother's voice—distant but clear: Remember who you are.

My shadows still, as if hearing it too. Even Finnick stops his inappropriate artwork to listen.

"The council accepts these terms," Elder Thaddeus declares, though his expression suggests he'd rather be anywhere else. "You will enter Absentia in two days' time. Face its corruption. Prove your right to remain among us. "

As the council disperses, my shadows cluster close. Bob has given up trying to censor Finnick's increasingly detailed "art," while Patricia's notes have devolved into pure chaos.

"You didn't have to do that," I murmur to Malrik as we leave the chamber. "There's no sense in both of us dying for this."

His silver eyes meet mine, and something flickers in their depths that I can't quite read. "Yes," he says quietly, "I did."

The weight of those three words settles into my chest, making it hard to breathe. His eyes change to something softer, making my heart stutter in its rhythm. "No one is dying. I'm with you, Kaia. Always."

***

Tension coils in the air as we leave the chamber.

I walk ahead, shoulders rigid, shadows curling around my feet like restless sentries.

Finn stays close, hands shoved in his pockets, his usual grin subdued.

Aspen moves beside me, his steady presence a quiet reassurance, though I catch the concern in his icy blue gaze.

Torric exhales sharply. "I still think we should've handled it differently."

"By handled, you mean punched someone in the face?" Finn arches a brow.

Torric glares at him. "If it worked, I wouldn't rule it out."

I don't speak. My mind still spins from the weight of the meeting, my shadows flickering with unease. I force myself to keep moving, to not let them see how shaken I am. The Heart of Eternity feels heavier against my skin, pulsing with what feels like urgency .

We reach the Shadow faction common room, the shadows along the walls shifting in response to our presence. I stop just inside the threshold, exhale slowly, then turn to face them.

"We have two days before we're sent into Absentia." My voice is steady, but my shadows twitch in agitation. "We don't have time to sit around debating what the council thinks of me. We need a plan."

Malrik watches me carefully, his silver eyes unreadable. "We'll prepare," Aspen assures me, his calm voice a balm to my fraying nerves. "We'll make sure you're ready."

I hesitate, my gaze dropping to where my shadows twist anxiously at my feet. Bob is already organizing them into what looks like a battle formation, but there's an edge of desperation to his movements that scares me more than I want to admit.

"I know Malrik is coming. But Aspen, Torric, Finn... I don't expect you to follow me into this." I force a small smile, trying to lessen the weight of the moment. "I wouldn't ask you to."

Torric stiffens. "Are you serious?"

Aspen frowns, stepping forward. "Kaia, do you really think we'd let you go into that place without us?"

Finn lets out a dramatic gasp, pressing a hand to his chest. "Wow. Just wow. The betrayal. I thought we had something special."

I groan, rubbing my temples. "That's not what I meant, Finn."

Torric lets out a sharp breath, shaking his head.

"Gods, you really don't get it, do you?" His golden eyes blaze with frustration, but underneath, there's something else.

Something softer. "You're not just some mission to us.

You think we're standing here, training with you, pushing you, because we feel obligated?

" He takes a step closer, the heat of him making my shadows stir.

"I'm going because I choose to. Because I won't stand back while you put yourself in danger. Not when I can fight beside you."

Aspen nods, his gaze steady. "You don't have to ask us, Kaia. We're here because we want to be." His fingers brush my wrist, a quiet reassurance that sends electricity up my arm. "Because we care about you."

Finn makes a choked sound. "Well, that was disgustingly romantic." But the way his chaos magic sparks between his fingers betrays how affected he really is.

I huff out a breathless laugh, even as my chest tightens with emotions I don't have names for. "You guys are impossible."

Torric smirks. "And you're stuck with us."

Malrik folds his arms, watching me with an unreadable expression. "Then it's settled. We'll spend the next two days preparing. That means training, gathering supplies, and making sure we're ready for whatever Absentia throws at us."

My shoulders relax slightly, some of the tension easing. "Thank you." The words feel inadequate for the weight of what they're offering, but it's all I have.

Finn grins, throwing an arm over my shoulders. "What kind of romance would this be if we let you go off to certain doom by yourself?"

I groan, shoving him off, but the flicker of amusement in my eyes isn't lost on anyone. My shadows settle slightly, Bob actually relaxing his rigid posture enough to pat Finnick on what might be his head.

Two days of training. Planning. Pushing. My shadows whisper in corners I can't reach. Mouse never leaves my side.

By day three, I'm sparring at dawn. Aspen corrects my form. Finn goads my instincts. "You're thinking too much," he tells me, deflecting my latest strike with infuriating ease. "Shadow magic isn't just about control—it's about feeling. Let them guide you."

I growl in frustration, my shadows coiling tighter. "Easy for you to say. Your magic literally thrives on unpredictability."

His green eyes soften. "And yours thrives on connection. So connect."

Malrik watches from the edges more often than he participates, stepping in only when needed. When he does, it's unsettling how seamlessly we move together, like our shadows know something we don't. His silver eyes track my movements with an intensity that makes my skin prickle with awareness.

Torric pushes my endurance, running drills until my lungs burn, and then forces me through another round. "If you can't push past exhaustion," he grunts, tossing me a waterskin, "you won't survive in Absentia."

By the end of the second day, I collapse onto the couch in the common room, Mouse curling into my side. My muscles ache, and the Heart of Eternity pulses against my skin in rhythm with my heartbeat.

"You look dead," Finn observes from the opposite chair, spinning a dagger between his fingers with casual precision.

"Feel dead," I mumble, half-heartedly swatting at his foot when he nudges my leg.

Aspen chuckles, settling in beside me. "You'll thank us when you make it back in one piece."

I don't answer. I'm not sure what I'm expecting once we enter Absentia. I just know that nothing is going to be the same after this. The Heart seems to agree, its warmth pulsing with something that feels almost like anticipation .

My shadows coil around me protectively, sensing my unease. Bob attempts to organize the others into what appears to be a proper formation, but even he seems distracted. Patricia keeps taking notes, though I notice her usual methodical approach has been replaced by something more frantic.

Malrik steps in, shadows clinging to his silver eyes like prophecy. "We leave at dawn."

I nod, fingers curling into Mouse's fur. My shadows twist and stretch around me, already sensing the shift in fate awaiting us.

The next time I cross these walls, I might not come back. The thought should terrify me, but all I feel is a strange sense of inevitability. Like everything since I came to this academy has been leading to this moment.

The Heart warms against my skin, as if in agreement.

Absentia waits.