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**Chapter 8: The Necromantic Deception**
The shadows of night swallowed the XCO School of Magic as Ogram guided Pietra to the ancient Hall of Forbidden Rites, a secret, forgotten chamber that pulsed with echoes of spells never meant to be revived. The increasing pressure of the investigation demanded desperate boldness, and Ogram knew that necromancy could provide the deadly illusion he needed.
"Pietra," said Ogram, his voice soft but laced with urgency, "there comes a time when the fate of the great is put to the test. We must create a distraction, a potent manifestation to cover the true movements in the shadows."
Pietra, whose faith in Ogram was blind and unshakable, nodded, her eyes reflecting both concern and a desire to help him. "What do you need me to do?"
"A magic that few would dare to try and that will therefore give us the cover we need. You will summon Leander's body, but not as he was. Like a shadow from the past, a spirit without will that wanders among us, distracting Caius and Evaline while I plan our next move."
Even though faced with such a dark request, Pietra felt hesitation scratch her heart. Necromancy was condemned, an abomination before the precepts of magic she had learned to respect. But Ogram's convincing gaze dissolved her scruples, and her passion for him overcame the ethics that struggled to stay afloat.
Under Ogram's instructions, Pietra positioned herself in the center of a circle of runestones, her trembling fingers tracing symbols in the air as she muttered incantations in an ancient language that echoed off the walls of the Hall. Ogram watched from outside, a spark of anxiety in his eyes that he disguised with a blanket of calculated indifference.
Pietra's magic rose like an unstoppable tide, filling the hall with a spectral fog and a buzz that clung to the mind. An ethereal form began to emerge, taking on a terrifying resemblance to Leandro, empty eyes scanning the space without seeing.
As the spell ended, the lifeless body gained movement, a grotesque parody of life that would soon attract the attention of the entire XCO School of Magic. The rumor of an undead roaming the grounds would be enough to focus all eyes on that mystery, leaving Ogram free to manipulate the strings in his curtain of deception.
Pietra, however, now carried the weight of what she had done. The glimpse of tears in the young woman's eyes revealed the internal battle she faced, a struggle between love and morality awakened by forbidden magic.
While Ogram took Pietra back to the safety of his quarters, the zombified figure of Leandro began his macabre march through the school courtyards, a spectacle that would confuse and capture the curiosity of everyone - particularly the investigators determined to discover the truth.
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The next chapter promises to explore the repercussions of the dark act instigated by Ogram, as Caius and Evaline try to unravel the mystery of the night walker. Pietra's intense emotion may be the weak point in Ogram's armor, and only time will tell how much longer she can withstand being used as a piece on a board of deceit. If you want to continue the story, tweak details, or explore the consequences of this macabre spell, I'm here to help.