Chapter 8: Hidden Letters

The wide open field behind the castle had been transformed into a training ground for today's Fightlogy class. All four houses Mystveil, Verdentide, Solburn, and Frosthollow were attending together, which was unusual. Normally, two houses trained together in rotation, but today was different.

A tall, broad-shouldered man stood at the center of the ground. His name was Master Garrik Stormbane, and he looked like he had marched straight out of an ancient battle scroll. His beard was a thick silver-gray, his hair swept back like wind-swept steel. A jagged scar ran across his left brow, but his eyes piercing and blue were calm, patient, and observant. Despite his intimidating presence, his teaching style was firm but fair.

Today's lesson was all about broom combat flying and defense coordination.

"Mount your brooms. Speak with them. Feel the wind, not just the wood," Master Garrik announced, his voice deep like thunder rolling across mountains.

Students lined up, brooms on the ground in front of them. One by one, they began summoning their sweeping sticks into their hands.

Lyla stood before hers, a determined pout on her face.

"Come into my hand, sweeping. I said, come into my hand!" she repeated, gritting her teeth.

But nothing happened. The broom lay still.

Ilisha, who stood nearby, chuckled gently. "If you talk to it like that, it'll never listen. Try asking… nicely."

Lyla frowned. "Nicely?"

"Yes," Ilisha nodded. "With love."

Lyla took a breath, softened her voice, and said, "Sweeping… please come into my hand."

Fwip the broom rose smoothly and landed in her grip.

Her eyes lit up.

"You seem happier lately," Lyla noted. "Like… lighter. Stay like that."

Ilisha smiled. "Only four days we get to live at a time, right? Why waste them sulking?"

Lyla tilted her head. "Do you not have problems in your life? You're always so positive."

"Oh, I have plenty," Ilisha replied with a half-laugh. "But if I let them weigh me down, I'd never move forward. Problems don't vanish just because I frown. So… I smile. Always."

She leaned in and whispered, "Sometimes I get so angry at people, I imagine their entire murder scene in my head."

Lyla's eyes widened. "You? No way."

"I don't let it show," Ilisha winked. "But my brain writes full horror novels."

Master Garrik walked past, overhearing their giggles.

"For your excellent teamwork and your politeness, Ilisha 50 house points."

Ilisha gave a cheerful grin. "Thank you, Master Garrik."

Soon, students were up in the air on their brooms, zooming through the sky in graceful arcs, laughing and learning as they flew.

That night, the dining hall buzzed with chatter. Each house sat at their respective tables, enjoying a well-deserved dinner.

Mona sat quietly at the Mystveil table, lost in thought. Her fingers fidgeted with the edge of her cloak.

Suddenly, a dark owl swooped through the high windows and landed right in front of her.

A letter.

With trembling fingers, she picked it up.

Rive looked over. "Is that from your dad again?"

Mona nodded. "Yeah."

Before she could read it, Principal William stood at the front and called for silence.

"Everyone," he said with a kind smile, "as you all know, the festival of Holi is approaching. On the 14th, we will celebrate Holi, and on the 13th, Holika Dahan."

Cheers rose from every table.

"We are granting a three-day holiday to all students. You may leave on the morning of the 13th and must return by the night of the 16th."

Laughter, clapping, and excitement filled the room.

As the students cheered and buzzed with excitement about the upcoming break, Mona sat still. Her hands trembled slightly as she unfolded the letter from Thorne.

The parchment felt colder than usual.

Her eyes darted across the page.

Mona,

You asked for proof. It's time you earn it.

If you are truly my daughter—my blood—you will do what must be done.

You know the name already.

Rive Windgrove.

You must eliminate him before the full three-day holiday ends.

If you don't, you are not worthy of my legacy.

You were trained for this.

You were chosen.

Do not fail me.

Thorne Emberfell

Mona's breath caught in her throat.

She stared at the letter as if it might vanish. Her fingers curled around the parchment, nearly crumpling it. For a few moments, she couldn't breathe.

"Rive…?"

She looked across the hall at him.

He was laughing actually laughing with Lyla and Livra about something. His face was bright, his shoulders relaxed. For the first time in weeks, he looked genuinely happy.

And Mona felt sick.

Later that night, Mona sat alone in her dorm room, the letter burning in her hand. The candlelight flickered, casting long shadows on the stone walls.

"How could I ever hurt him?" she whispered to herself. "He's my"

She cut off the thought. There was no name for what they were. They weren't siblings. But they were… something.

Something strong.

Something deep.

But Thorne's voice echoed in her mind.

"Do not fail me."

Suddenly, she heard footsteps.

Rive knocked on her door gently.

"Mona?" he said. "You okay?"

Mona froze. She quickly shoved the letter under her pillow, wiped her face, and opened the door.

"I'm fine," she lied.

He smiled. "You looked a little… off at dinner. I just wanted to check."

Mona gave a small nod, her voice low. "Thanks. I… I'm just tired."

Rive hesitated, as if he wanted to say more. But instead, he simply said, "Alright. Goodnight, then."

She watched him go. Her hand stayed on the doorknob long after he'd disappeared.

Meanwhile, far from the dorms, inside the Tower of Whispers, a glowing mirror shimmered with smoky images.

A hooded figure stood before it Thorne.

Beside him, a black-robed boy stepped into the light.

"It begins soon," Thorne said. "She'll do it.

I've trained her too well to hesitate."

Later that night, when the castle had quieted and everyone returned to their dorms, Lyla sat by her window again, holding her diary. With a soft sigh, she began to write...

Diary Entry #5

by Lyla

Today felt... weird.

We had our first Fightlogy class with all four Houses together. It was chaotic and fun except my broom just wouldn't listen to me. I had to literally beg it to come to my hand.

Ilisha helped, of course.

She always says things like "life is only four days long, so smile anyway."

She's annoyingly positive sometimes... but it works.

Then came dinner.

That's when Mona received a letter.

It was from Thorne.

She didn't say much, just quietly read it. But something in her eyes changed. Something dark. I don't know what it was, but it made my stomach twist.

She looked afraid… or maybe dangerous.

I don't know what to believe anymore.

Why does Thorne write to her so often?

Why do I feel like I'm being left behind in something important… and scary?

But at least today…

I didn't hear that scary voice.

Maybe I can breathe. Just for now.

Sometimes I w

onder 

Am I still me? Or am I becoming someone I don't recognize?

The boy tilted his head. "And if she doesn't?"

Thorne turned to him with eyes like frozen fire.

"Then we move to Phase Two."