whispering shadows

Melly's breath came in short gasps. The whisper still echoed in her ears, sending shivers down her spine. She scanned the empty hallway, her fingers tingling with the urge to summon a spell, but she hesitated. Casting magic in the open could expose them, and she had promised herself—no more fights, no more war.

But something in St. Luca wanted her to break that promise.

A sudden gust of wind rushed through the corridor, though the windows were shut tight. The dim lights flickered, casting eerie shadows that danced along the walls. Then, just as suddenly as it came, the wind died. Silence followed. Too much silence. Even her own heartbeat seemed muffled.

A movement. Quick. Barely noticeable.

Melly turned sharply, her eyes narrowing. Down the far end of the hallway, past the archway leading to the library, a figure stood—a shadow, unmoving, watching.

Her instincts screamed at her to run. Instead, she stepped forward.

"Who's there?" Her voice was steady, but her fingers twitched, ready to summon fire at the first sign of danger.

The figure tilted its head. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, it spoke again.

"You should have never come here."

A chilling wave of energy slammed into Melly's chest. The force sent her stumbling backward, her vision blurring. She gasped, gripping the cold stone wall to steady herself. The shadow had vanished. Only a lingering darkness remained where it had stood, like a stain on reality itself.

Footsteps. Familiar ones.

"Melly?" Arkins' voice cut through the silence, grounding her. A second later, his strong arms were around her, steadying her. "What happened? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Maybe I have," she murmured, still staring at the empty hallway.

Arkins' gaze followed hers, his jaw tightening. "Come on, we need to get back to the others. If something is haunting this place, we need to know what we're dealing with."

Melly nodded, but deep inside, she already knew one thing.

This wasn't just a haunting. It was a warning. And whatever lurked in St. Luca College… it knew exactly who she was.