Chapter 16: Headmistress Valeria

As Professor Eldrin left the infirmary, the door closed behind him with a quiet click, leaving Headmistress Valeria alone in the dimly lit room. The weight pressing against her chest did not ease. Instead, it grew heavier, like a secret clawing at her insides, demanding to be set free.

She took a slow, measured breath. She remembered everything. Every detail of what had happened before she lost consciousness was crystal clear in her mind, but she could not speak of it not yet. The burden of knowledge was one she had carried for years, and she would carry it still. Pretending ignorance was the only way to ensure the truth remained hidden.

With a newfound resolve, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood. The brief dizziness that washed over her was nothing compared to the urgency thrumming through her veins. Without wasting another second, she made her way toward her office, her steps steady despite the storm of thoughts swirling in her mind.

Upon entering, she moved with precision, reaching for the hidden mechanism embedded in the shaft of her bookcase. With a soft click, the concealed entrance slid open, revealing a narrow passageway. Without hesitation, she stepped inside, the door sealing behind her as she descended into the hidden chamber beneath the Academy.

At the far end of the chamber, an ancient stone tablet glowed faintly, its inscriptions shifting like living ink. She reached out, pressing a specific sequence of runes, and the room trembled as a hidden doorway materialized before her. She stepped through, entering a vast, circular chamber bathed in a soft golden glow.

The Guardian was already waiting for her.

Its towering form radiated an ageless power, its piercing gaze settling upon her with an intensity that made her pause. Then, in a voice as deep as the earth itself, it spoke.

"Valeria, you have done well to keep the truth hidden. But the time draws near. The Chosen One has been found."

Who is the chosen one" asked Valeria 

One of your student in the academy he said.

her thought drifted to the time before she loss consciousness.some students came to her office for the key, but before they came Kael from the shadow concord have already gone with the key.

"Was it one of them",she thought to herself

who is the chosen one ",she asked again.

"Aria"said he guardian.

Valeria exhaled slowly, bracing herself. "Aria."

"Yes," the Guardian confirmed. "She must be trained.sa You know the trials she must endure, the strength she must gain. The darkness is stirring, and she must be ready."

Valeria nodded, her expression unreadable. "I understand."

"You must guide her," the Guardian continued. "The Forbidden Loom must not fall into unworthy hands. She must master its power before it consumes her. If she is not prepared, it will break her… or worse, she will become a vessel for the very darkness we seek to contain."

A shudder ran through Valeria at the thought. She had witnessed the price of failure before what happened to those who were not strong enough. She would not let Aria meet the same fate.

"She will not fail," Valeria vowed. "I will see to it myself."

The Guardian's gaze softened slightly. "Good. But she will not walk this path alone. There is a group destined to stand with her. They must remain by her side through the trials to come."

Valeria folded her arms. "The group is nearly complete. I suspect fate will draw the last of them together soon."

The Guardian inclined its head. "Then all is proceeding as it should."

A long silence stretched between them before Valeria finally sighed, the weight of responsibility pressing heavily on her shoulders. But despite the burden, she felt a strange sense of relief. For now, the world was still intact. The Shadow Concord had failed to break the final seal. The entity they sought to unleash remained locked away.

For now.

She closed her eyes for a brief moment, gathering herself, then opened them again. "I must return before suspicion arises. They already wonder about my recovery."

"Go," the Guardian said. "But remember her training must begin soon. Time is running out."

Valeria nodded and turned, stepping back through the portal. As she emerged in her office, she took a deep, steadying breath, smoothing down her robes before walking back to her desk. She had to act as though nothing had happened as though she was just another headmistress returning to her duties.

But deep down, she knew everything had changed.

The next morning, the Academy awoke to the tolling of the great bell. Its deep chime resonated through the halls, calling students and faculty alike to the grand assembly hall. Murmurs filled the corridors as students hurried to take their places, the sense of anticipation thick in the air.

Aria stood among her friends, her stomach twisting with unease. She had barely slept, the weight of the Guardian's words still heavy in her mind. Across from her, Riven exchanged a glance with Jax, both of them equally on edge.

"What do you think this is about?" Mira whispered, keeping her voice low.

"Something tells me we're about to find out," Lila murmured in response.

At the front of the hall, the professors gathered, their expressions unreadable. Professor Eldrin stood beside Headmistress Valeria, who, despite her recent recovery, looked as composed as ever.

When the room fell silent, Valeria took a step forward.

"What happened yesterday, is just a minor disturbance to what will happen in the future.

The weight of her words settled over the assembled students. Most exchanged confused glances, but none dared to speak out.

"However," she continued, "there are matters that must be addressed. Dark forces are stirring once more, and we must be prepared. As such, I will appoint some certain students which will undergo specialized training to ensure the Academy's safety."

A ripple of whispers spread through the crowd. Even the professors were surprised. Why did the headmistress want specialized training for only a select group of students? they wondered.

"Who are this students?" someone asked hesitantly.

Valeria's gaze swept the room before settling on Aria. "The selection has already begin made," she said ."

Aria swallowed hard as she felt the stares of those around her. She knew, without a doubt, that she was one of them.

But she wasn't ready.

She wasn't sure if she ever would be.

Yet, as she glanced at her friends at Riven, Jax, Lila, Mira, and Eryn she saw the resolve in their eyes. No matter what was coming, they would face it together.

Even as the shadows lengthened around them, Aria clenched her fists.

She had no choice but to be ready,she thought to herself.

The headmistress took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping across the assembled students. The hall was silent, every pair of eyes fixed on her, waiting.

"I will now call the names of the students who have been chosen for specialized training," she announced, her voice steady and commanding. "This training is vital to ensure that the forces of darkness do not overtake our Academy."

She paused before continuing, her tone filled with weight.

"Riven,Jax, Lila, Mira, Aria, and Eryn."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd as the chosen students exchanged glances.

"These students have been selected after careful evaluation of their skills, potential, and readiness," Valeria continued. "They will undergo training outside the Academy, where they will face rigorous challenges designed to prepare them for the battles ahead."

Her gaze sharpened as she looked over the gathered students. "As for the rest of you guard yourselves well. Troubled times are upon us, and vigilance will be necessary from everyone."

She let her words sink in before offering a final nod.

"That is all. You are dismissed." she said closing the gathering.

The assembly dispersed soon after Valeria's announcement, but the tension in the air did not fade. Students murmured amongst themselves as they filed out of the hall, speculating about what the headmistress had meant. Aria kept her head down, walking with her friends as they made their way toward the dormitory corridors.

Jax let out a low whistle. "Well, that was cryptic as hell."

"What else is new?" Riven muttered, his sharp eyes scanning the faces around them as if expecting someone to be watching.

"She basically confirmed what we already knew," Lila said, glancing at Aria. "This isn't over. Not even close."

Mira nodded. "And if she's telling the truth, then our training is about to start."

Aria exhaled. "I just wish we had more answers. The Guardian told me I needed to be ready, but ready for what?"

"For whatever's coming," Eryn said grimly. "And if the Shadow Concord failed to release whatever was sealed away, you can bet they'll try again."

The group fell silent as the weight of the situation settled over them.

Aria clenched her fists. The Guardian had said there were trials she had to face. That she needed to become stronger. But how? What exactly would this training entail? And why did it feel like no one was telling her everything?

As they rounded the corner leading to the dormitories, a figure was waiting for them.

Headmistress Valeria.

Aria's breath hitched as the headmistress met her gaze with an intensity that made her heart pound.

"Aria. Walk with me."