Chapter 24: Fire in the Blood

The final bell rang through the sprawling halls of the Academy, and students filtered out in pairs, trios, and noisy clusters. Seraphina walked slower, her thoughts thick, lingering on everything she'd seen in the library… and everything she'd felt. Her eyes still glowed faintly violet beneath the sun that bled through the windows, and her silver hair caught glints of light as she moved.

Cam was waiting just outside the class building, leaning against a marble column like she'd been there forever. Her arms were crossed, one brow lifted lazily as Seraphina approached.

"Still catching stares," Cam said, smirking. "Not that I blame them. The hair suits you."

Seraphina rolled her eyes, though she smiled. "It doesn't feel like me… but maybe it is. Maybe it always was."

They walked in silence for a moment, their footsteps echoing softly down the quiet corridor until Seraphina finally spoke. "Cam… can I ask you something? And I want the truth."

Cam gave a sideways glance, her smirk fading into something softer. "Of course."

Seraphina stopped near a glass corridor that overlooked the training fields. "What… what bloodline are you from? Like really. You always deflect. You've never said anything about your parents."

Cam tilted her head. Her expression unreadable for a moment.

"I guess I always thought it didn't matter. But to you, it might."

"It does," Seraphina whispered. "Because I don't know what I am, and somehow… you make me feel like I'm not alone."

Cam sighed. "Alright, no more hiding then."

She turned to fully face her. "I'm not just a fae. I'm a Rank 13. That's what the Academy classifies me as, though it's more of a label than anything."

"What does Rank 13 mean?" Seraphina asked, her voice small.

"It means I'm made up of many things. My mother was a fire witch from the Ember Range. My father… was a shadow fae. Technically noble, but exiled before I was born. I don't really know him."

Cam looked away for a moment. "I was raised by the Order, bounced around until the Academy recruited me. I learned to survive, fight, lie… until I didn't need to lie anymore."

Seraphina studied her. "That's why your hair shifts color, isn't it?"

Cam gave a faint, almost sad smile. "Yeah. It's a side effect of the duality. When I'm calm, it's black. When my magic flares or I'm… emotional, it turns red. Fire and shadow don't always play nice."

Seraphina's eyes softened. "And your eyes… they shimmer sometimes."

"Amber, when I use magic. Silver, when I don't. Just like your eyes changed after the vision," Cam added gently.

They stood in silence again, but this time, it wasn't awkward. It was heavy… meaningful.

"I don't know what I'm becoming," Seraphina said finally. "But I know I want to become someone who understands herself. Someone who can protect others."

Cam nodded. "You will. You already are."

Seraphina looked at her. "Do you think it's bad… not knowing your whole bloodline?"

Cam shook her head. "I think it's powerful. Because you get to define what that means. You're not limited by your past. You're building your own future."

A beat passed.

"Come on," Cam said, nudging her shoulder. "Let's go spar. I want to see if your new eyes come with new reflexes."

Seraphina grinned. "You're on."

And together, they walked toward the training hall, two bloodlines tangled with fire, shadow, and the unknown—ready to face whatever came next.

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