The next morning had shown just how unprepared Fila was for the school to start. Even managing to miss breakfast. Luckily for her, June and Calla had brought some peanut and jelly sandwiches for her.
But why did they not wake her up? Well because when they tried to Hugin and Munin had let out a growl and scared them away.
Fila sat on the edge of her bed, nursing a slightly crushed peanut butter and jelly sandwich while the silver-tipped lilies on her nightstand hummed a soft, morning melody. Through her sapphire-tinted vision, the room was a peaceful blur of green vines and glowing outlines, but she could feel the lingering "I told you so" energy coming from the doorway.
"You two," Fila rasped, directing her voice toward the two massive wooden shapes sitting by the door. "They were trying to help. If I miss the meeting because you decided to be overprotective furniture, I'm turning you both into coffee tables."
Hugin let out a low, wooden creak that sounded suspiciously like a shrug, while Munin simply settled his head back onto his paws. They didn't seem particularly repentant.
"Don't blame them too much," June said, her voice floating in from the hallway as she peeked back into the room. "They're terrifying when they're grumpy. I value my fingers more than your punctuality, Fila."
"Fair point," Fila chirped, finishing the last of her sandwich and standing up. She adjusted the dark blue blindfold, making sure the Thunderbird embroidery was centered. "But now I have to run, well, walk briskly, to the training hall. If Aaron gets there first, he'll have ten minutes to practice his 'I'm better than you' face in the mirrors."
"He's already there," Calla called out from the common room. "Theo saw him heading down early with a very smug-looking wand."
Fila's smirk sharpened. "Smug, is it? We'll see how smug he looks when he's tangled in a rosebush."
She walked out of the tower, with her overprotective panthers on either side of her. First years walking past her saw something they never had before, and all had the same expression.
Fila also noticed something knew about her flower sight. The first years didn't have the same, 'intensity' compared to someone who had casted a lot of spells before. they were tamer and calmer compared to someone like a third year, or even Theo. But also, the kind of spells seemed to matter, Like Theo who didn't cast a lot of combat spells, his magic seemed rounder, and soft around the edges. While some of the more senior students who had dueled a lot were rougher and even spiky. It's an interesting observation, and could probably be used when looking at an opponent to see how experience they are.
The realization made Fila's smirk widen. It was like everyone was walking around with their resumes written in light, and they didn't even know she could read the fine print. Theo's magic was a soft, rounded presence she could practically lean against, while the seniors they passed felt like jagged glass and iron.
She reached the heavy doors of the training hall, her panthers' wooden joints clicking in a rhythmic, predatory cadence. Inside, the air was sharp with the ozone of practiced spells.
"Ah, the guest of honor finally arrives," Aaron's voice drawled from the center of the hall. He was leaning against a pillar, and to Fila, he looked like a vibrating, neon-orange cactus, all jagged edges and desperate spikes of ego. "I was starting to think the stairs won, Rosier. Did you get lost, or did you just need an extra hour to get the blindfold straight?"
Fila didn't stop until she was on the platform, facing him.
"I took the scenic route, Aaron," she rasped, her head tilting with that predatory smoothness. "I wanted to give you a few extra minutes of feeling like the best duelist in the room. I figured you should enjoy the sensation while it lasts."
Professor Hale stepped into the center, his presence a cooling, disciplined silver. "Enough. The tournament won't wait for your egos. Alright everyone listen up." He began. "The tournament has been changed slightly, and will now take place at Castelobruxo. This is because of some accident in Japan, we don't know what." He said.
The champions didn't look disappointed by the news, going to Japan would have been amazing, but no one would complain about seeing the jungle covered school of southern America.
The news rippled through the hall, and for a moment, the jagged orange spikes of Aaron's magic flickered with a brief, uncharacteristic waver of surprise. Castelobruxo. Fila's mind immediately went to the climate—humidity, ancient stone, and a jungle so dense the magic probably felt like it was breathing. For someone who practically spoke the language of vines and blossoms, a school carved into the rainforest wasn't just a destination; it was a home-field advantage.
"Brazil, then," Fila rasped, her thumb tracing the smooth wood of her wand. "I suppose I'll have to pack something for the humidity. I'd hate for the panthers to start warping."
Hugin let out a low, grounding creak at her side.
"Castelobruxo is a fortress of botanical and magizoological wonders," Professor Hale continued, his silver presence remaining sharp and unmoved by the change of plans. "The change in venue doesn't change the stakes. You are still representatives of Ilvermorny, and you are still expected to dominate."
He turned his head toward the platform where Fila and Aaron stood. "And since the two of you seem so eager to test the air, we'll proceed. Aaron, the change in location doesn't mean you can slack off. Fila, the jungle will be a different beast entirely. And no summoned beast allowed for this."
His directive didn't bother her, he probably wanted to see if she could handle herself without the protection of the fearsome Bob.
Fila took her position and her wand slid out from her sleeve. She felt the Black walnut wand in her hand, and it felt nice to be back in this environment again.
Now how was she going to embarrass the little Aaron this time. Her grandfathers lessons replayed in her head, and she thought about the projection magic he had showed her.
That time she had made a snake, but what if this time she just scared him with a Bob how isn't actually Bob. A grim smile plastered on her face.
"And Fila, if you have trouble seeing, you need to tell me. The headmaster has informed me that you can attend and somewhat see. So prove it." Professor Hale called out. "Begin." He shouted.
Fila didn't move and Aaron took his chance to cast several magic arrows towards her.
Fila didn't flinch. To her, the arrows weren't points of wood and steel; they were three whistling streaks of jagged orange energy cutting through the sapphire calm. She tilted her head as the first one hissed past her ear, then leaned back just enough for the second to skim over her chest. The third she swatted away with a lazy flick of her Black Walnut wand, the wood singing as it made contact.
"Still aiming where I was, Aaron," Fila rasped. "You really should try to keep up."
She didn't want to just win; she wanted to haunt him. Drawing on the lessons from the Austrian mountains, she tapped into the projection magic Gellert had drilled into her. She didn't call for the real Bob, Professor Hale had been clear about that, but she reached into her memory of the massive, terrifying tree giant and pushed that image into the mind of Aaron.
To him a giant four meter tall golem he had faced the last term emerged, but this time taller and much more terrifying.
Aaron's magic spiked into a frantic, needle-like mess. "What—! You said no beasts!" he yelled, his voice cracking as he scrambled backward, his boots sliding on the stone.
Professor hale raised an eyebrow but saw what was happening so he didn't stop the fight.
Aaron who was now frantically shooting spells left and right towards a monster that didn't exist anywhere but in his mind. Didn't see that Fila was calmly walking towards him.
And before he knew it she stood behind him. She watched him keep shooting spells at the wall behind the invincible monster.
Fila leaned in close to his ear, her voice a low, raspy velvet that cut through his panicked shouting. "It's behind you, Aaron."
The boy let out a strangled yelp and spun around, his wand arm flailing. But he was too slow, and his balance was already ruined by his own frantic retreat. Fila didn't even use a spell; she simply extended her foot. With the grace of a dancer, she watched his jagged orange magic collapse as he tripped over her leg and went sprawling onto the stone floor.
"Enough," Hale's voice boomed, cutting through the projection.
Immediately, the towering golem vanished from Aaron's mind. He was left gasping on the ground, his face beet red, staring at the empty air where a monster had just been threatening to crush him. The silence in the training hall was deafening. Daniel and Sera looked at each other.
Fila stood over him, her head tilted, the blue blossom behind her ear perfectly still. "You're very predictable when you're scared," she noted, her voice flat.
"That... that was a foul!" Aaron wheezed, pushing himself up, his orange aura now a bruised, muddy mess. "She used a beast! Professor, you saw it!"
"I saw a boy jumping at shadows," Hale said, walking onto the platform. He looked at Fila with those cold, silver eyes. "Impressive mental projection, Rosier. Most students can't manifest a fear that vivid without a boggart nearby. But Aaron is right about one thing, it's a distraction, not a finishing blow."
Hale turned to the rest of the group. "Fila didn't use a beast. She used Aaron's own lack of composure against him. In the jungle, the heat, the vines, and the shadows will do the same thing. If you can't tell the difference between a real threat and a trick of the light, you'll be out in the first round."
He looked back at Fila. "Control was good. Pacing was excellent. But don't get cocky. The students at Castelobruxo grew up in that environment. They won't be as easy to rattle as a boy who's too fond of his own reflection."
Fila chirped a small laugh, her thumb tracing the thunderbird on her blindfold. "I'll keep that in mind, Professor. I'm sure the jungle has much better stories to tell me anyway."
She turned and walked off the platform, Hugin and Munin falling into step beside her. Their wooden joints clicked a satisfied rhythm. As she passed Marcus, she felt his magic, a steady, deep blue, ripple with respect.
"Nice walk," he muttered as she passed.
"Wait until you see the run," Fila replied with a smirk.
Next up was Sera and Marcus. They displayed a very impressive dance of pure control and understanding of how a duel could look. But Fila still thought that they used too many normal spells, and nothing that would really surprise the opponent to give them an advantage.
Fila kept watching and even training some things with professor Hale, he wanted to see more of the projection magic she had learnt.
"Alright try something." Professor Hale commanded.
Fila thought about making Bob again but, why not make her opponent totally blind. She started thinking of a black box, and than put it around the professor.
To him, he now stood in a pitch black box and couldn't see anything outside the box.
The room fell into a heavy, artificial stillness as the projection took hold. For everyone else in the hall, Professor Hale simply stopped moving, his eyes glazing over as he stood encased in an invisible perimeter of Fila's magic. To the professor, however, the world had been swallowed by an absolute, crushing void.
Professor Hale didn't panic like Aaron. His silver energy didn't spike or shatter; instead, it contracted, becoming a dense, shimmering shield around him. He remained silent, his head tilting slightly as he tested the boundaries of the dark. He wasn't reaching out with his eyes—he was reaching out with his intent.
"Claustrophobic, isn't it?" Fila rasped, her voice seemingly coming from every direction at once within the box. "The dark doesn't just hide things, Professor. It makes you realize how loud your own thoughts are."
With a sharp, sudden flare of his magic, Hale slashed his wand in a wide arc. A burst of pure, white light erupted from his tip, not a spell aimed at a target, but a surge of raw willpower meant to shatter the illusion. The "black box" flickered like a dying candle before dissolving into sapphire sparks.
Hale blinked, the brightness of the training hall returning to him. He took a slow breath, adjusting his stance.
He looked at Ophelia, how stood there still as innocent looking as ever. "That some scary magic Ophelia. And most would panic and maybe even go insane." He let out a short breath, still trying to calm himself. If he hadn't been as experienced as he is, he doubted he would get out of that box.
"That is precisely the point, Professor," Fila rasped, her head tilting slightly as she tracked the silver thrum of his magic returning to its steady, disciplined state. "In the dark, people don't fight their opponent. They fight themselves. And most people are their own worst enemies."
Hale wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, his eyes lingering on the blue silk of her blindfold. "An elegant, if terrifying, philosophy. But remember, Rosier, while they are fighting themselves, you are still standing there. Do not let the elegance of the trap make you forget to finish the duel. A trapped lion is still a lion."
The little training kept going well into the afternoon. Fila was a bit bummed, she had missed the first herbology class. She didn't need it but she still liked being there watching Theo screw up the most basic replanting ever.
"Alright everyone, that's enough for today. Next session will be on Friday." Professor Hale said as he clapped his hand together.
Fila walked out after everyone else. She walked slowly through the school, observing the new students walking around to explore. She saw a bit of herself in them.
Walking to the dinner hall would be useless now since dinner was already over by a long time.
So instead she walked to the kitchens.
Inside she saw several house-elves working with cleaning up the dishes. She looked to the right where she saw a familiar face, "Hey, Fila come sit." Sera waved.
Beside her sat Marcus. Seems like the two had the same idea as her.
"Great minds think alike, I suppose," Fila rasped, her panthers clicking a slow rhythm behind her as she navigated around a stack of large copper pots. "Though I suspect you two didn't miss breakfast and lunch. I'm currently sustained by pure spite and half a peanut butter sandwich."
"We just needed to decompress," Sera said, sliding a plate of warm rolls toward the empty seat. "That 'black box' trick you did on Hale... I think I'm still feeling the phantom chill from it. It was brilliant, Fila, but genuinely disturbing."
Fila sank into the chair, her gloved fingers immediately finding the edge of the plate. "It's a bit like being inside a drum, isn't it? Everything feels too close and too far all at once. But in Brazil, we can't expect the other schools to play fair.
Soon enough a plate appeared in front of Fila. The plate had several things on it. Meatballs, pasta with tomato sauce and even some pancakes. Most likely leftovers from the dinner.
"Has Aaron always been so…"
"Egoistic? Yes he has." Answered Marcus. "He was insufferable in the early years, and has barley left that behind."
Fila started eating calmly, the food had been reheated and tasted good.
Sera looked at Fila. "Are you okay Fila?" she asked suddenly.
Fila looked up, with her mouth full of pancake. "With what?"
Sera and Marcus looked at each other first than back at her. "I mean with the… blindfold and scars…" she didn't really want to say it.
Fila swallowed the bite of pancake slowly, the sweetness of the syrup a sharp contrast to the sudden, heavy shift in the air.
"You mean the fact that I'm a walking reminder that the world isn't all sunshine and chocolate frogs?" Fila rasped, her voice lacking any real bite, though the edge was there. She reached up, her gloved fingers lightly tracing the edge of the dark blue silk over her eyes. "It's a bit inconvenient for the aesthetics, I'll admit. But as I told June last night: I'm not made of glass. The scars are just... proof of purchase. I paid for my life, and this was the change I got back."
She took a sip of water, her head tilting slightly as she 'watched' their reactions.
"It's okay to look, Sera," she added, her tone softening just a fraction. "I know it's a lot. But don't make the mistake of thinking I'm less because I see the world through sapphire clouds and vines. If anything, the dark has made me much more efficient. I don't get distracted by how pretty a spell looks before it hits me."
Marcus cleared his throat, his chair creaking as he leaned forward. "We weren't thinking you were less. Honestly? After seeing you put Hale in a box today, I think we're more worried about staying on your good side. It's just... we've known you since first year. Seeing you like this... it's a lot to take in."
"I know," Fila chirped, returning to her meatballs. "But I'm still the same mean, observant Ophelia you've always known. I just have a much better excuse for why I don't notice when people are making faces at me."
Sera let out a small, relieved laugh, her yellow magic brightening. "Fair enough. But if you start using that 'black box' on us during practice, I'm bringing extra light-charms."
"Duly noted," Fila smirked.
As they ate, the rhythmic clatter of the house-elves' cleaning provided a comforting backdrop. The kitchen felt like a bubble of normalcy in a week that had been anything but. Fila felt the star-shard ring on her finger humming a low, steady beat, harmonizing with the silver-tipped lilies she knew were waiting for her in the tower.
"So," Marcus said, changing the subject with a deliberate nudge. "Brazil. Castelobruxo is supposed to be carved directly into the ancient ruins. The entire school is protected by the Caipora, small, fuzzy, and apparently very mischievous forest spirits."
"Fuzzy?" Fila asked, her interest piqued. "Do they bite?"
"According to the textbooks, they're mostly harmless unless you try to hunt in their forest," Sera added. "But they love to trick travelers. I wonder if they'll find your 'ghost golem' as funny as I did."
"I hope so," Fila rasped. "I'd hate to be the only one with a sense of humor in the rainforest."
They finished their meal in a comfortable silence, the initial tension of the day finally washing away. As Fila stood to leave, her panthers rising in perfect unison beside her, she felt a familiar, rounded presence at the kitchen door.
Theo didn't say anything at first. He just stood there, his magic a soft, grounding charcoal that made the sapphire world feel a little warmer. He was holding a small, leather-bound book, probably the one he'd been 'reading' earlier.
"There you are, been looking over half the continent for you." he said jokingly.
Fila pretended to look surprised. "Oh no you found me." She said with a smirk.
"I have my ways," he said leaning on the doorframe. "I should have known I would find you where the food were."
He looked over at Sera and Marcus still sitting, "Oh don't let me disturb the gentle peace of the oh so mighty champions of Ilvermorny, I'm but a humble servant." He said while bowing down.
They both started laughing. "You were right, he is funny." Marcus said.
Fila walked passed Theo. "Come now servant." She said in a posh English accent. "You have to polish my shoes."
Theo let out a mock gasp of indignation but didn't hesitate to fall into step right beside her. "Polishing shoes? I think you've spent far too much time around your grandfather, Rosier. Next, you'll be asking me to brush the panthers' fur or peel your grapes."
"Don't give me ideas, Theo. Munin is very picky about his grain," Fila chirped, her boots clicking a steady rhythm against the stone floor. As they moved further from the kitchen, the warmth of the ovens was replaced by the cool, evening air of the school's corridors.
"How did first lessons go?" Fila asked as they walked.
Theo sighed. "Much the same as always, professors giving their first speech and then slamming homework on the desk."
"Sounds like a delight," Fila rasped, her head tilting as they navigated a familiar corner. "Though I'm sure Professor Naya was thrilled to see you trying to handle a Screechsnap without me there to keep the vines from strangling you. Did you actually manage to repot it, or did it try to take a finger?"
As they reached the base of the Thunderbird tower, Theo's charcoal aura seemed to settle, becoming more dense and protective. He slowed his pace, glancing at the blue silk covering her eyes. "Seriously though, how was it? Hale's training isn't exactly a walk in the park. Especially with... well, everything."
"It was fine, Theo," Fila said, her voice losing its playful edge for a moment. "I put Aaron in his place, and I gave Hale a glimpse into a black box. I think they finally understand that the 'ghost story' has teeth." She stopped at the bottom of the stairs, her fingers tracing the star-shard ring. "I missed Herbology, but I didn't miss the chance to remind everyone that I'm not a tragedy. I'm a champion."
Theo watched her for a beat, his magic a steady, warm pulse. "I never doubted it. But maybe tomorrow you could try to make it to one class? Just so I don't have to explain to the professors why my 'master' is playing hooky."
"I'll consider it, servant," Fila smirked, starting the climb up the stairs with Hugin and Munin clicking along behind her. "But only if there are no more peanut butter sandwiches involved. I think I've reached my limit for the week."
"I'll see what the kitchens can do," Theo called out with a grin as he watched her disappear into the tower.
Fila walked into the common room, searching for someone to sit with. And finally saw a group of fourth years sitting by the couches. As she approsched they all looked up.
"Hey, there is our little murder machine." Kali said.
He got nudged by Alice sitting on his right. "Don't listen to him Fila. Come sit down."
Fila let out a tiny, genuine huff of a laugh as she navigated toward the empty spot next to Alice. The sapphire world of her vision was warm here, filled with the flickering, steady oranges and yellows of the older students.
"A murder machine, Kali?" Fila rasped, her panthers letting out a synchronized wooden creak as they settled at her feet like living statues. "I think that's a bit dramatic. I'm more of a... high-efficiency strategist. Besides, if I were a murder machine, the common room would be a lot quieter and Aaron would be much shorter."
Kali grinned, leaning back into the leather sofa. "Heard about the training session. A black box? Even the Seventh Years are talking about it. They say Hale looked like he'd seen a ghost when he stepped off the platform."
"He didn't see anything at all, actually," Fila chirped, adjusting the dark silk over her eyes. "That was the beauty of it. People get so comfortable with their eyes that they forget how to survive without them. And I was really looking forwards to seeing how scared I could make a professor."
The group laughed. It seemed like rumors had already started to spread, proving that nothing here could be hidden for long.
Alice watched her for a moment, her magic a soft, supportive lilac. "We're all rooting for you, Fila. Seriously. But Brazil... it's not just about the dueling. Castelobruxo is a fortress. Are you ready for the travel?"
"I'm ready for the change of scenery," Fila replied, her thumb tracing the Star-shard ring. "I've had enough of mountains and cellars to last a lifetime. A rainforest sounds... exciting."
"Just make sure you bring us back something cool," Kali added. "I hear they have enchanted gold from the ruins."
"I'll see what I can do," Fila smirked. "But if I bring back a Caipora, it's staying in your dorm, Kali. I've already got enough overprotective furniture to deal with."
As the evening wore on, the chatter of the Fourth Years acted as a comforting backdrop. They kept talking for a while, even trying to find out anything about why they had changed the location from Japan to south America. They wouldn't do that if it wasn't serious.
But that's a conversation for another time. Fila actually had something she needed to do before going to sleep.
She walked carefully up the stairs. June and Calla weren't in the room so this was a perfect time.
There had been one thing she hadn't done for a long time now and it was time for a reunion.
A heavy thud sounded as the heavy book slammed into the desk of the dorm room. It was time to hear what her self writing book had to say after a whole summer.
The book opened by itself like always.
Fila looked at the blank page, and smiled ones words formed out of thin air. "Hello Ophelia, its been a while." It began in the rnoaml way before fading into nothing.
"You've grown, in more ways than one." It than wrote.
Fila looked down, "You mean my bust? I know I like it…"
"I'm not talking about your bust, and you know it. seems like your humor has evolved as well." The book wrote, but Fila smiled anyway.
"You're becoming a bit of a critic," Fila rasped, her head tilting. "I suppose spending a summer in a trunk does that to a literary consciousness. But you're right. The dark has a way of sharpening the tongue as much as the magic."
The ink swirled again, dark and fluid, forming sharp, elegant letters. "The dark didn't just sharpen you, Ophelia. It reshaped you. I can feel the change in your touch. Your magic is... heavier. Like stone and old roots."
The book went quiet in its own way. It usually did this, but not for this long. "What they did to you Ophelia, I don't understand how you still feel like the same person. But you cant fool me, I know that under that blindfold hides the real you."
Fila didn't move, but she did feel heavier. "Real me?"
"I know what you want to do to them Ophelia, and I cant blame you for it." it began. But suddenly flipped page. "Fontaine and other powerful wizards and witches will tell you to behave, but they have no right to tell you what to do. Be yourself and shape yourself Ophelia. Granddaughter of Gridnelwald."
Fila felt her fist harden, she liked what the book was telling her. But she didn't know if she should. The sad part was that she agreed, she knew that hiding these thoughts wouldn't be good for much longer. "And you suggest me to do what? Just go nuts and slaughter every dark wizard on the planet?"
"No but stop being so pitiful. Make them regret looking at you, become untouchable. You have the power to do it." the book didn't want her to become some death eater slaughter machine, it wanted her to fight back against the things chasing her.
"Untouchable," Fila whispered, the word tasting like ozone and cold iron. She ran a gloved hand over the star-shard ring, which pulsed in a slow, rhythmic agreement. "I'm already halfway there. Most people can't even look me in the eye anymore, mostly because I don't have any."
The book flipped back to a previous page, the ink forming a sprawling map of the Amazonian basin, the school of Castelobruxo glowing faintly at its center.
"Castlebruxo will be your forge, the duels you will have aren't going to be as tame as David Hale seem to think they are. They will be bloody, and you will face stundets who come here for the same reason as you, to win."
Fila looked at the page, and just realized. Professor Hale had never told them the rules for how the matches would be won or lost. "So what, people die in these duels or what?"
"Yes, many times." The book wrote plainly.
Fila stared at the ink as it bled into the fibers of the parchment, the word "Yes" appearing so starkly it felt like a physical blow. The sapphire blur of the room seemed to flicker for a moment, the humming of the lilies on her nightstand turning into a low, discordant thrum.
"Die?" Fila rasped, her voice barely a breath. "This is a school tournament. Ilvermorny doesn't send students to their graves for a trophy."
"You know that in the Triwizard tournament, students die. This is no difference." The truth laid there on the old worn pages, written in ink older than the school.
The Triwizard tournament was infamous for having students going to the absolute brink of death, and even dying. And this wouldn't be different. A bloody competition where if you didn't show fangs, you would get eaten.
"Why didn't Professor Hale tell any of us this?" Fila asked.
"Try telling a bunch of students to go into a potential death trap."
Fair point.
Fila thought about everything, were the others even prepared for such an competition. She had seen them train, and from what she saw. They wouldn't survive long. But are the other students prepared better or the same.
"It doesn't matter if the others are prepared. The only thing that you need to do is not being weak." The book flipped page. "And don't listen to your headmaster, he's an idiot."
Finally something we can agree on, Fila thought.