Chapter 28

The chains strained under the beast's thrashing, the runes flickering as they struggled to contain its immense strength. Cracks began to form in the stone pillars anchoring them.

"We need to end this now!" Lena shouted, gripping her sword tighter.

Elliot's mind raced. They had a limited window before the creature broke free. He analyzed its body—thick limbs, armored hide, glowing red core in its chest.

The core.

That had to be its weak spot.

"Lena, aim for its chest!" Elliot yelled.

She nodded without hesitation and dashed forward, her blade flashing. The beast roared and swiped at her, but the chains restricted its movement just enough for her to slip past.

With a powerful leap, she slashed at the core. Sparks erupted as her sword met resistance, but the attack wasn't deep enough. The creature howled in fury, its strength surging. The chains began to snap, one by one.

Elliot cursed. If a direct hit wasn't enough, they needed something stronger.

Then it hit him.

The academy's enchantments.

He turned toward the broken pillars, where the runes still pulsed weakly. If he could redirect their energy—

"Buy me thirty seconds!" Elliot called out.

Lena didn't ask questions. She pressed forward, delivering rapid strikes to keep the beast occupied while Elliot ran toward the nearest rune circle.

He placed his hands on the glowing symbols, feeling the ancient magic beneath his fingers. This was advanced spellwork, but he didn't need to master it—he just needed to reroute it.

Closing his eyes, he focused.

The enchantments hummed, reacting to his presence. He traced the flow of energy, redirecting it toward the broken chains and, more importantly, toward Lena's sword.

The blade pulsed with newfound power.

Lena's eyes widened for a split second before she understood. She adjusted her stance and lunged forward, pouring all her strength into a single strike.

This time, when her sword met the core—

A brilliant explosion of light erupted.

The beast let out a deafening screech as cracks spread across its body, darkness spilling out like liquid shadow. The runes flared one last time before the entire creature shattered, dissolving into the night.

Silence followed.

Elliot let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

Lena landed gracefully, her blade still glowing faintly before the enchantment faded. She turned to him with a smirk. "Not bad, genius."

Elliot chuckled, rubbing his temples. "Next time, let's not fight something that big, alright?"

She grinned, but before she could respond, a new sound echoed through the air.

A slow, deliberate clap.

They turned sharply—

And standing atop the academy's outer wall was a cloaked figure, face hidden beneath a hood.

"Well played," the figure said, voice smooth and mocking. "I suppose I should have expected as much from you two."

Lena tensed, gripping her sword. "Who the hell are you?"

The figure tilted their head. "Oh, you'll find out soon enough."

Then, in an instant, they vanished into the shadows.

Elliot's heart pounded. Whoever that was—they had been watching.

And this was only the beginning.

The night air was thick with tension as Elliot and Lena stood frozen, eyes locked on the spot where the cloaked figure had vanished. The echoes of their mocking applause still lingered in Elliot's ears.

"Who was that?" Lena muttered, her grip on her sword tightening.

"No idea," Elliot admitted, scanning the darkness. "But they were watching us the entire time."

A breeze rustled through the trees, sending a shiver down his spine. Something about that figure—about the way they spoke—felt too deliberate.

Lena exhaled sharply. "If they wanted to attack, they would have. Instead, they just… observed."

Elliot frowned. "Which means they were gathering information."

That thought unsettled him more than he cared to admit.

A low groan from the academy's courtyard snapped them back to reality. The battle had left its mark—broken stone, shattered pillars, lingering traces of dark energy from the beast they had slain.

And in the midst of it all, the unconscious bodies of several students who had been caught in the chaos.

Lena sheathed her sword. "We need to get them to the infirmary."

Elliot nodded, pushing his unease aside. Questions could wait. Right now, their classmates needed help.

They worked quickly, carrying the wounded students toward the academy's medical wing. The corridors were eerily silent at this hour, the lanterns casting long shadows across the walls.

As they reached the infirmary, the doors swung open before they could even knock.

Professor Aldric stood there, arms crossed, his sharp golden eyes scanning them both.

"I heard the commotion," he said, stepping aside to let them through. "What happened?"

Elliot hesitated. He and Lena exchanged a glance before Lena finally spoke.

"A monster attack. But not a normal one."

Professor Aldric's expression darkened. "Explain."

They recounted the battle—the chains, the runes, the mysterious figure who had been watching them. Aldric remained silent throughout, his fingers tapping against his forearm.

When they finished, he let out a slow breath. "This is troubling."

"You think it's connected to the recent disappearances?" Elliot asked.

Aldric's gaze flicked to him, unreadable. "Perhaps. But I won't jump to conclusions yet."

Lena scowled. "Someone was watching us, Professor. They knew exactly when to appear. That's not a coincidence."

Aldric sighed. "No, it's not."

For a long moment, silence filled the infirmary. Then, the professor straightened.

"I'll report this to the Headmaster. In the meantime, you two—" He narrowed his eyes. "Stay out of trouble."

Lena smirked. "No promises."

Aldric pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly regretting his life choices.

Elliot chuckled. "We'll be careful."

The professor muttered something under his breath before turning to check on the unconscious students. Taking that as their cue to leave, Elliot and Lena stepped back into the corridor.

The academy was quiet again, but this time, it felt different.

More… hollow.

Elliot glanced at Lena. "So. What now?"

She stretched her arms behind her head. "Now? We get some sleep."

Elliot snorted. "You think we'll be able to sleep after all that?"

She grinned. "Not a chance."

Despite everything—the battle, the eerie presence of the cloaked figure, the uncertainty of what lay ahead—Elliot found himself smiling.

Because whatever came next…

At least he wasn't facing it alone.