The Secret Beneath the School

Chapter 13: The Secret Beneath the School

Sera couldn't sleep .

She turned from one side to the other in her bed.

The glowing stone Mora gave her was beside her pillow.

It pulsed softly, like a heartbeat.

Something about it felt... different tonight.

Outside, the wind howled gently through the trees.

The moonlight slipped through her window like silver ribbons.

She sat up slowly, listening .

There was a faint humming sound.

Very soft . Very low .

She picked up the stone .

It glowed a bit brighter in her hand .

Her heart thumped.

She slipped on her robe, grabbed her shoes, and quietly opened the door.

Everyone else was asleep.

Even the paintings in the hallway were still.

She tiptoed down the stairs, the stone still humming in her hand.

As she walked past the library , the stone grew warmer.

She stopped .

Was it trying to tell her something ?

Sera looked around .

No one .

She turned and slowly opened the door to the library.

It creaked just a little .

The room was dark , except for the moonlight shining through the high windows.

She stepped inside, holding the stone like a lantern.

As she reached the center of the room, the hum grew louder.

Then—click.

A soft sound beneath her feet.

A part of the floor moved.

A round circle opened, just wide enough for a person to fit.

Sera gasped.

There was a staircase leading down into darkness.

She hesitated.

Then she remembered what Mora said: " Open it when you're ready."

Maybe this was what Mora meant .

Sera took a deep breath and stepped down.

The stone lit the way.

Step by step, she went deeper into the earth.

Cobwebs brushed her arms.

The air smelled old and still.

Finally, she reached the bottom.

The stone stopped glowing.

She stood in a wide, hidden chamber.

There were strange carvings on the walls.

Old symbols. Maybe from the first magic.

In the middle of the room was a large book.

It sat on a stone table, covered in dust.

Sera walked slowly to it.

She wiped the dust away.

The title read: "The Origins of Morwenna."

Her heart skipped.

She opened the book.

The pages were full of drawings, spells, and notes.

Some pages were torn.

Others looked burnt.

She read the first page:

"Morwenna was not always evil. She was once a protector. A guardian of light."

Sera's eyes widened.

This changed everything.

She read on:

"Jealousy and betrayal turned her heart. A close friend—one she trusted—tried to steal her power."

Sera felt chills down her back.

She turned another page.

There was a drawing of a glowing stone.

It looked just like hers.

The caption read: "The Heart of Light. Can only be used by one who seeks peace."

Sera held the stone tightly.

She was meant to have it.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in the chamber.

"You shouldn't be here."

Sera spun around.

A tall shadow stood at the staircase.

It stepped into the light.

It was Mora.

But her face looked... different.

Colder.

"Why are you here, child?" Mora asked, her voice deeper.

Sera stepped back. "The stone led me. I found this book."

Mora's eyes narrowed.

"That book was never meant to be found."

Sera swallowed hard. "Morwenna wasn't always bad. Someone betrayed her."

Mora stepped closer.

Her shadow flickered strangely.

"You've read too much."

The stone in Sera's hand began to glow brightly.

Mora hissed and stepped back.

Sera looked down.

The stone was protecting her.

"You're not the real Mora," Sera said slowly.

The woman's eyes turned black.

Her face shifted.

Then—POOF.

In a burst of dark smoke, she turned into something else.

A creature made of shadows and smoke.

It snarled.

Sera raised the stone high.

A blast of light shot out.

The creature screamed and vanished into the wall.

Sera fell to her knees, breathing hard.

She needed help.

She ran back up the stairs, gripping the stone tightly.

She reached the hallway and darted to Valen's room.

She knocked fast.

"Valen! Open the door! It's urgent!"

Valen opened it, eyes wide. "Sera? What's wrong?"

Sera told him everything. The hidden room. The book. The shadow creature.

Valen listened silently, then said, "We need to wake the others."

Within minutes, Kael, Riven, and Lira were all awake and gathered.

They looked both tired and worried.

"We have to find the real Mora," Riven said.

"What if she's trapped?" Lira whispered.

Sera nodded. "And we need to protect the stone. Someone is after it."

Kael looked serious. "Then we're in danger too."

Valen put a hand on Sera's shoulder. "We'll face it together."

Sera held up the stone. "We have to stop whoever is behind this. And find out what really happened to Morwenna."

Just then, the stone pulsed again.

A new hum filled the air.

And a faint voice whispered into Sera's ear:

"Help me... I'm still here... beneath the roots."

Sera's eyes widened.

The mystery had just begun.

And she was ready to uncover the truth.

Whatever it took.