The rest of the school day felt like a blur.
Lyra tried to focus during Runic Studies, Potion Theory, and Magical History, but her mind kept replaying the moment her hands had glowed crimson.
It hadn't been wild or out of control like before.
It had been calm.
Controlled.
And that scared her even more.
Aerin whispered to her throughout classes, trying to keep her spirits up.
"You did great with the cinderstep," he whispered during lunch.
"You didn't burn anything down," he whispered during Alchemy.
"You only startled three students," he whispered during Practical Studies.
But Lyra wasn't worried about the students.
She was worried about Instructor Vaelor.
He had looked at her like he recognized something she didn't understand.
And now she was supposed to meet him alone.
After Last Period
When the final bell rang, her heartbeat started racing.
Aerin walked with her toward Vaelor's classroom.
"You want me to wait outside?" he asked, pushing his glasses up.
"No," Lyra said, though her voice trembled. "You'll get in trouble too."
Aerin frowned. "You sure?"
Lyra nodded.
He hesitated, then handed her a crumpled piece of paper.
"What's this?" she asked.
"A map of the campus's emergency hiding spots."
"Hiding spots?"
"Just in case he yells. Or throws fire. Or collapses part of the floor. Which has happened."
Lyra stared. "Aerin what kind of teacher is he?"
Aerin sighed. "Strict. Powerful. Does not like surprises."
Her stomach tightened.
She folded the paper and slipped it into her pocket.
"Good luck," Aerin whispered.
Then he gave her a little wave before jogging off.
Lyra took a deep breath and stepped into Vaelor's classroom.
Instructor Vaelor
The room was quiet.
No torches.
No magical flames.
Just the dim orange glow from the sunset.
Vaelor stood at the front, hands behind his back, posture straight and unreadable.
"Close the door," he said without looking at her.
Lyra obeyed.
"Come here."
She walked toward him, each step heavier than the last.
Vaelor finally turned to face her.
His eyes bright molten gold studied her like he was trying to see through her skin.
"You calmed a cinderstep today."
Lyra swallowed. "I didn't mean to—"
Vaelor raised a hand. "Don't explain. I'm examining."
He moved closer, stopping only a few feet away.
"What you did should be impossible."
Lyra's breath caught.
Impossible?
Vaelor continued.
"A cinderstep reacts only to fire affinity magic. Yet you… showed no fire affinity during your assessment."
"I don't have a fire affinity," Lyra whispered.
"No," Vaelor said quietly. "You have something… different."
Lyra's chest tightened.
Here it was.
The moment someone finally saw the truth.
Vaelor stepped even closer too close and Lyra instinctively took a step back.
A small flame flickered across his palm.
"Hold out your hand."
"I—what? Why?"
"This flame is harmless. I need to test something."
Lyra's pulse hammered in her ears.
She didn't want to touch any fire.
Not after everything that had happened in her life.
But refusing would be suspicious.
Slowly… hesitantly… she raised her hand.
Vaelor guided the small flame toward her skin.
It should have burned.
It should have stung.
But….The flame didn't hurt.
It didn't even warm.
It curled around her fingers like a kitten seeking comfort.
Vaelor's eyes widened.
"Just as I thought," he murmured. "You don't react to fire at all."
Lyra pulled her hand back.
"What does that mean?" she asked, voice trembling.
Vaelor studied her with a mixture of awe and confusion
"It means," he said slowly, "your power is not elemental."
"Then what is it?"
Vaelor exhaled, and for the first time, he looked… almost unsure.
"There are records… very old ones… of a forbidden type of magic. Lost centuries ago."
His tone dropped to a whisper.
"Magic that burns hotter than fire… older than the elements… and cannot be wielded by ordinary mages."
Lyra's skin prickled.
He looked her directly in the eyes.
"Tell me, Lyra. When did your power first awaken?"
She froze.
Her mind raced.
If she told him the truth about the flames, about the villagers, about the Calamity would he help her?
Or would he label her dangerous?
Before she could answer….
BOOM.
The windows shook violently.
A burst of crimson light flashed outside the classroom.
Lyra gasped.
No.
Not here.
Not now—
Vaelor stared at the window. "What was that?"
Lyra's breath caught.
She knew that color.
That pulse.
It was the same crimson glow she had seen in the vision.
The same crimson glow she saw in her nightmares.
The same crimson glow that followed her.
She didn't want it to be true.
But deep down…She knew.
The Calamity was inside the academy.
Vaelor grabbed a fire staff.
"You. Stay behind me."
Lyra shook her head, panic rising in her throat.
"He's here," she whispered.
"He found me."
"What did you say?"
Lyra backed away, clutching the edge of a desk.
The crimson glow flashed again closer this time.
And a faint voice echoed through her mind.
Lyra…
Her knees weakened.
Not now.
Not again.
Vaelor took a defensive stance.
"Lyra, get down—"
But the crimson light erupted through the hallway before he could finish.
Bright,blinding,Alive.
And Lyra could feel it reaching for her.
Calling her,Claiming her.
The Calamity had arrived.
This time…not in a vision,In the real world.