Weeks had passed since they stole the gem, and still, no rumors had surfaced about its disappearance. Yet caution lingered. They had hidden it in their dorm, far from prying eyes, but the silence only deepened their unease.
They had originally planned to return it to the palace—the place where everything had begun. But Lior hesitated. She believed it was wiser to keep it hidden, even from themselves, fearing that its presence in the palace might trigger something… unexpected.
Ever since she asked Yrion for a favor, their paths had begun to cross more often—something that never used to happen. And because of that, Lior sometimes forgot the weight of her own worries.
Now, the eleven of them sat together in the cafeteria. Lior's friends didn't approve of her sharing a seat with Yrion, but they didn't say anything. They saw how happy she seemed, and that was enough—for now.
Though they weren't fond of the idea that Lior might grow closer to the Prince of Ignetharion, they chose to stay silent. In recent lessons, they had noticed how distant she'd become—often staring into space, even mid-conversation, as if pulled into another realm.
Even without words exchanged, Lior felt joy simply being near the boy she liked. Her expression remained unreadable, but inside, her emotions swirled like a storm.
Everyone focused on their meals—except Lior, who nibbled on sweets. She had always loved sweet things. When her grandfather was alive, he used to prepare desserts for her before training. It was a memory she clung to.
Suddenly, Lior stopped eating her chocolate cake and stared blankly. Her friends noticed immediately. They hadn't stopped watching her for even a moment.
They didn't ask, but their concern was obvious. Others at the table noticed the worried glances and turned their eyes toward Lior, who sat frozen, fork near her lips.
"Lior…" Glaceille called softly.
She turned her head. "Are you okay? You seem distracted."
Lior gave a faint smile. "It's nothing to worry about," she replied, hoping to ease their concern.
But five of them didn't believe her. Sometimes Lior was easy to read, but other times, her actions were unpredictable.
Keal, Thorne, Jex, Kira—and Yrion, who kept glancing at her—were all quietly worried.
To her friends, Lior seemed trapped between reality and something unknown. Yrion, ever since the incident in the archive, believed she was struggling with something deeper. He just didn't know how to help.
After lunch, the group split up for their major classes. Lior walked with her closest friends, while the others took different paths.
As they headed toward their building, her friends couldn't hide their concern any longer.
"We know you don't like people interfering," Kira said gently, "but we're worried about you, Lior."
Lior stopped walking. "Something's been bothering me…" she said, then continued walking.
"Mind if you share it?" Jex asked, his voice full of care.
Lior nodded. It wasn't right to keep it from them anymore. They deserved to know. If she stayed silent, they might regret not knowing sooner.
"These past few days… someone's been following me," she began. Her friends looked at her, confused. "I can't see its face. It's all black. Like a shadow."
She stopped and turned to face them.
"Every night, I have the same dream. It's been happening for almost two months. It always wakes me up. Sometimes I think they're not dreams at all—but forgotten memories. But whose memories… I don't know."
Her friends were alarmed. Kira gently held her hand to comfort her. Lior smiled weakly, but the sadness in her eyes remained.
"Why didn't you tell us earlier?" Thorne asked.
"I thought it was nothing. But now… it's affecting me. My power…" she whispered.
"What do you mean?" Keal asked, confused.
Lior turned away, unsure if she should say more. But she trusted them. Maybe they could help her find her strength again.
"My power… it's starting to fade," she said softly.
Her friends gasped. Kira embraced her tightly, while the others gently rubbed her back to comfort her.
Lior broke down in tears, overwhelmed by their warmth.
"It scares me… I don't know what to do. I've researched everything, but I found no answers," she cried.
"Shhh…" Kira whispered, trying to soothe her.
"We'll figure it out, Lior," Jex said with hope in his voice. "We'll always be by your side."
Lior pulled away from the hug, wiped her tears, and smiled—a smile full of hope.
"I'll count on you," she said, her voice steady.
She believed now that what was happening was just a trial—a shadow she must pass through to fulfill her mission and discover who she truly was.
After their heartfelt conversation, they headed to class, their bond stronger than ever.
As they walked into the classroom, the light from the stained-glass windows cast soft colors across their faces. Lior glanced at her friends—each one a flicker of strength in her dimming world. She didn't know what lay ahead, but she knew this: she wasn't alone.
And sometimes, that was enough to keep the shadows at bay.