Chapter 9:Shadows Of The Past

*Chapter 9: Shadows of the Past*

Seraphina stood in the courtyard outside the main building, her fingers trailing along the cool stone walls as she tried to clear her mind. The sun was low in the sky, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch across the grounds. But for once, it wasn't the magic of the academy or the prophecy swirling in her thoughts that occupied her mind. No, today her thoughts were drawn back to something much more personal.

Her father.

The last time she saw him was years ago, right before she left for the academy. He had been cold, distant—more so than usual. She never fully understood why. He wasn't abusive, not in the traditional sense. But there was always a sense that he was hiding something. Something important. And for some reason, he had always kept her at arm's length. As a child, it was easy to dismiss his odd behavior—he was a man of few words, a figurehead in their family's noble status. But as she grew older, Seraphina began to feel the weight of his detachment more acutely.

Her mother had passed away when she was young, leaving a silence in their home that was never truly filled. Her father never spoke of her mother much, and Seraphina always felt as though there was a hole in her family—a hole no one talked about. The lack of affection from her father, the unspoken grief that lingered like a shadow—it all pointed to something more complicated than she had ever realized.

Now, at Aeloria Academy, Seraphina could almost feel the invisible strings connecting her to that past, pulling her back. The prophecy, the visions, the silver flame—it all felt like a dangerous web that had been carefully spun around her family long before she had even been born.

"Seraphina?" The voice interrupted her thoughts, and she turned quickly to see Maria standing at the entrance of the courtyard, her face concerned. "You okay? You've been out here for ages."

Seraphina forced a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Yeah, just thinking."

Maria studied her closely, clearly sensing that something was off. "About your father?" she asked gently, walking over to her.

Seraphina's heart clenched at the mention of him. She hadn't spoken to Maria about her father in detail, but Maria, as always, seemed to know when something was weighing on her. She nodded, turning her gaze to the horizon.

"I haven't heard from him since I got here. He's never been the 'checking-in' type," she said, her voice tinged with bitterness she didn't normally show. "But I thought... after everything that happened, maybe he'd reach out. Maybe I'd hear something from him." She looked at Maria with a soft sigh. "But nothing."

Maria didn't immediately respond. Instead, she sat next to Seraphina on the stone bench, her expression quiet and understanding. Finally, she spoke. "You know, sometimes people act distant because they don't know how to *be there* for someone. Maybe he doesn't know how to reach out because he's just... struggling, too. With your mom... and everything."

Seraphina flinched at the mention of her mother. The truth was, she didn't know *what* had happened with her mother's death. Her father had always been vague about it, and every time Seraphina asked, he'd change the subject. The grief in his eyes, when he did mention her mother, was something Seraphina couldn't quite understand. It made her uncomfortable, as if something was being kept from her.

"I don't know," Seraphina murmured, her fingers tightening around the edge of her sleeve. "I think there's more to it, Maria. I think he knows something—something about my magic, about why I'm here, why I *have* these powers. He's kept me in the dark about so much. I'm just... tired of not knowing."

Maria's eyes softened, and she placed a hand on Seraphina's arm. "I get it. You deserve answers, Seraphina. You have the right to know about your past. But you can't carry it all by yourself. Maybe... maybe it's time you talk to him. You never know—he might surprise you."

Seraphina looked at her, a faint smile forming. "You always know the right thing to say."

Maria grinned. "I try." She paused, her face turning a little more serious. "But, seriously. If you need anything, I'm here for you. We'll figure this out together."

Seraphina nodded, feeling a small sense of comfort. For a brief moment, she felt like she wasn't entirely alone in this, even though the weight of her past still pressed heavily on her heart.

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*Later that Evening*

That night, after a long day of classes, Seraphina found herself standing before her dormitory's ornate mirror, her reflection staring back at her with a familiar sense of confusion. She was no longer the child who had left home with a sense of uncertainty. No, the prophecy, the magic—it had changed her. It was like she was on the cusp of something bigger, something far beyond what she had imagined when she first stepped foot in Aeloria.

She had to confront her father. If not for herself, then for the *truth* that seemed to linger on the edges of her awareness.

A knock on her door interrupted her thoughts.

"Seraphina?" Kael's voice called from the other side. "Are you busy?"

She opened the door to find him standing there, his usual calm demeanor masking the concern she could see in his eyes. He had noticed something was off. He always did.

"No, just thinking." She didn't want to say too much, but her mind was already racing with the decision she had made. She was going to confront her father.

Kael raised an eyebrow. "About what?"

Seraphina hesitated for a moment before responding. "My father. I think it's time I go home for a bit. I need answers. About my magic, about *everything*."

Kael seemed to consider this for a long moment, his eyes searching hers as if weighing her words. Finally, he nodded. "If you need anything, let me know. I'll go with you, if you want."

Seraphina shook her head. "No. This is something I need to do on my own."

"Alright. But remember," he said, giving her a small smile, "if you get into trouble, I'm coming after you."

Seraphina smiled back, though it was bittersweet. "I'll keep that in mind."

***

The next morning, Seraphina packed her things in silence, the thought of returning home bringing a knot to her stomach. She had no idea what awaited her there, or if her father would even speak to her. But she knew she had to face whatever truths lay hidden in the walls of her family's estate.

As the carriage took her away from the academy, the familiar landscape unfolding outside the window seemed different, as if everything was now under a shadow she couldn't shake. The winds of change were blowing, and no matter how much she tried to prepare herself, she couldn't escape the feeling that the *past was catching up with her*—and that she might not like what it had to say.

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