✨ Chapter 34 – Before the Storm
Ariana didn't sleep that night.
Not after facing the ancient door.
Not after feeling it react to her.
Not with the phantom heat of her bracelet still pulsing against her wrist.
Kai insisted she stay in the infirmary with Aster for the night—
and truthfully, Ariana didn't want to be anywhere else.
Aster lay curled beneath soft blankets, chest rising and falling slowly.
Every now and then, she murmured something unintelligible—
and Ariana's wolf reacted each time with protective fear.
Around dawn, Aster stirred.
Ariana leaned forward immediately.
"Aster? Baby?"
Aster's eyes flew open—wide, terrified, glowing faint silver.
"Ariana!" she cried, clinging to her.
Ariana hugged her tight.
"It's okay. I'm here."
"No…" Aster whispered into Ariana's shoulder. "Not okay. Not okay."
Kai rushed from where he'd been pacing the hallway.
"Aster?"
The little girl looked up at them, trembling.
"I saw the door again," she whispered. "It was awake."
Ariana felt ice crawl down her spine.
Kai knelt close.
"What do you mean awake?"
Aster closed her eyes, hugging herself.
"When it felt moon-sister… when it tasted her light… even for a little bit… it started dreaming."
Ariana swallowed hard.
"And now?" she whispered.
Aster looked up fearfully.
"It dreams of her."
Kai's jaw clenched.
"Ariana will not go near that thing again."
Ariana nodded quickly.
"I won't. I promise."
Aster reached for Ariana's bracelet.
"The bracelet… burned to protect you."
Ariana didn't answer. She still felt the faint sting on her skin.
Aster whispered:
"Don't take it off, okay? Not until it's right time."
Ariana nodded slowly.
"I won't. Not until I have to."
Kai inhaled sharply—
but didn't argue.
His fear was too raw.
Later That Morning – In the Dorm Courtyard
The academy was buzzing.
Students gathered in clusters, talking urgently.
Professors cast protective spells along walkways.
Prefects moved in lines, taking roll and checking wards.
Ariana stood beside Kai as the Headmaster addressed the student body.
"After last night's incident," Headmaster Solarin said, "we are implementing Stage Red Protection Procedures."
Students gasped.
Even seniors went pale.
Stage Red was reserved for:
— war
— invasion
— catastrophic magical breach
— or all three at once.
Solarin continued:
"Tonight, and every night until further notice, all divisions will train under emergency drills. We will not allow further infiltration."
"Who's attacking us?" a student shouted.
Solarin raised a hand.
"We suspect an external faction with extensive magical knowledge."
Loren, standing among the Prefects, tensed.
Seraphina, beside him, glanced nervously around the courtyard.
Then—
A hand touched Ariana's shoulder.
Ariana turned and blinked.
"Seraphina?"
The beautiful girl stood there—no arrogance, no smirk—just soft worry in her eyes.
"Are you alright?" Seraphina asked quietly.
A Ariana hesitated.
"Yes. Why?"
Seraphina bit her lip.
"Loren told me what happened. That you went beneath the academy. That you faced something… ancient." She swallowed. "I didn't know you were involved in all of this."
Ariana shrugged weakly.
"It's complicated."
Seraphina nodded.
"Loren's scared. And I'm…" She paused. "…I'm worried too."
Ariana blinked.
"You're… worried about me?"
Seraphina rolled her eyes a little.
"Jealous doesn't mean heartless," she muttered.
Then added softly: "…and you're important to Kai. So yes, I'm worried."
Ariana blushed.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Seraphina squeezed her shoulder lightly—
gently—
not flirtatious, not snide.
"You're stronger than you look," Seraphina said.
"I see why he—"
She cut herself off quickly and smiled awkwardly.
"Never mind. Stay safe."
Ariana opened her mouth to respond—
But a loud voice shouted:
"LISTEN UP!"
Professor Vayne, a tall Guardian instructor, marched onto the platform.
"We're splitting into three teams!" he barked.
"Junior first-years, advanced divisions, and Pillars-led units!"
A collective murmur ran through the students.
Vayne continued:
"Each group will train defensive, offensive, and survival techniques. Every student will fight if the academy is attacked. No exceptions."
Ariana's stomach flipped.
Aster had said it.
They want everyone… all students…
Ariana turned to Kai.
"You think Rebirth will attack the school?"
Kai's expression darkened.
"I think they already planned to."
Zane joined them, lifting a stack of scrolls.
"We found something in Myrra's quarters. Gregor—the Head of Rune Analysis—is decoding it."
Ariana swallowed.
"Found what?"
Zane held up a parchment.
"An attack map."
Ariana froze.
Crowd noise vanished.
Her heartbeat echoed.
An attack map.
Zane smoothed the parchment onto a bench.
It showed the academy grounds—
colored markings—
four red circles around the perimeter—
and a massive central sigil drawn right over the main courtyard.
A sigil Ariana recognized.
"The corruption seal…" she whispered.
"Amplified. Loaded. Ready."
Kai clenched his fists.
"They're planning to break the barriers from all four sides simultaneously. A total breach."
Calen muttered, "A school-wide collapse…"
Rylan snarled softly.
"They want to swallow the whole academy."
Seraphina's breath hitched.
"And… and all of us?"
Ariana nodded grimly.
"They want everyone. All divisions. Juniors, seniors… everyone who can become a vessel."
Aster's words echoed through her mind:
The big bad is watching everyone… not just you.
Ariana felt her wolf stir painfully.
"War soon."
Before Training Begins
The courtyard emptied slowly as teachers called out division groups.
Ariana stood on the steps, staring at the parchment in Zane's hand.
Kai stood beside her, tense but quiet.
"You feel it, don't you?" he murmured.
Ariana didn't answer.
Because she did.
The air tasted like a storm.
Her wolf was restless.
Her bracelet pulsed faintly, as if aware of the danger.
"Something big is coming," Ariana whispered. "Bigger than before."
Kai stepped closer, close enough that she felt his warmth across her skin.
"When it comes, I won't let you fight alone."
Ariana shook her head.
"No. No one should fight alone." She looked at him, voice low. "Everyone will need each other."
Kai stared at her for a long moment—
and Ariana swore she saw something in his eyes.
Fear.
Hope.
And something deeper.
"Ariana…"
He stepped closer.
Then—
A bright voice cut through the tension.
"Moon-sister!"
Aster came running across the courtyard, clutching a blanket around her shoulders.
"Aster!" Ariana rushed to her. "You shouldn't be up!"
Aster grabbed Ariana's hand urgently.
"It's starting," she whispered.
Ariana froze.
"What's starting?"
Aster pointed to the sky.
A thin crackle of pale red lightning pulsed through the clouds—
barely visible.
Barely there.
But Ariana saw it.
Kai saw it.
Zane saw it.
Aster whispered:
"The door is dreaming louder. They're listening. They're coming."
Ariana lifted Aster, heart racing.
Aster cupped Ariana's cheeks with tiny hands.
"Moon-sister… when the final battle comes… you will have to shine. Really shine."
Ariana swallowed painfully.
Aster whispered the final warning:
"And when you do… everyone in the academy will fight with you."
Ariana tightened her grip around her.
Kai touched Ariana's shoulder, voice steady.
"We'll win. Together."
Ariana felt her wolf rise inside her—
fearful, yes—
but ready.
"Moonlight meets shadow soon."