Part Two – Eyes of the Witch
Location: Ashenwell Academy – West Tower Courtyard, Midnight
The third years had returned in full force.
Ashenwell pulsed with renewed tension—older students now walked like kings, power humming beneath their feet. Everywhere Grim and his siblings passed, eyes followed.
Some in awe.
Some in fear.
And some in calculation.
At the heart of it all was Zariya Nightwind.
The elemental witch.
Apex of the third years.
Unchallenged, unbroken, and—until now—uninterested.
A Sudden Meeting
Grim stood alone in the moonlit garden between dueling practice and rest. The air was thick with the scent of ice blossoms and scorched gravel.
"You burn hot for someone so composed," a voice said.
Zariya stepped into view, black robes sweeping behind her like the night itself. Her silverthreaded eyes locked onto his with an intensity that made the air around him pulse.
"Solace," she said.
He didn't flinch. "Nightwind."
She studied him for a moment, tilting her head, violet flame flickering at her fingertips.
"You've changed. That duel wasn't your real strength."
"You watched."
"Everyone watched. But I understood. You're suppressing something."
She stepped closer. "Something ancient. And broken."
Sparks appeared behind Grim, arms crossed.
"Ugh. She's got the 'mysterious enchantress' voice going. Grim, blink twice if you need rescuing."
Zariya smirked. "Your echosoul has a sharp tongue."
"She bites," Grim said dryly.
"I like sharp things," Zariya whispered.
Then she pulled something from her sleeve—a silver sigil, glowing faintly with twisting runes.
"There's a place beneath the academy," she said. "Older than Ashenwell. Forbidden. Lost."
"What's there?" Grim asked.
"Answers. About the Guardians. About you. And something the Court doesn't want you to remember."
"Why me?"
Zariya turned.
"Because we're the same, Solace. Born broken. Burned wrong. But still standing."
She tossed the sigil to him—it hovered in the air before sinking into his palm.
"Tomorrow night. After the final bell. Come alone. Or not at all."
And then—she vanished in a swirl of stardust and silence.
Back in the Dorms – That Same Night
Grim sat on his bunk, the sigil pulsing in his hand.
Sparks floated beside him, unusually quiet.
"She's dangerous," she finally said.
"So am I."
"You're sweet when you lie to yourself," Sparks muttered, then added softly,
"Just… be careful, Grim. There's something wrong about her aura. Like it's not hers."
Grim didn't respond.
But he didn't throw the sigil away either.