ELYSIA’S RETURN TO CLASS – THE UNEXPECTED ANSWER
Elysia finally decided—she needed to move forward.
The loss of Livia and Trigaha was a weight on her chest, but staying locked in her room wouldn’t change anything.
She walked slowly through the academy, every corner bringing memories of them.
The way they used to laugh in the hallways.
The way Trigaha would playfully bump into her.
The way Livia would always tease her about Ethan.
Now—
She was alone.
She didn’t know who her new friends would be.
Didn’t know if she was ready for new ones.
She entered the classroom, her mind still lost in memories.
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THE LECTURE – AN ANSWER THAT SHOULDN'T BE KNOWN
At the front of the class, Wigor Osumi was already deep in lecture.
Her voice echoed through the room, steady and clear.
Osumi (explaining, pointing at a projected diagram): "So, when the Kundla of Light bonds with the CHD of our body, it produces a small Arci."
Elysia barely heard her.
She was still looking around, remembering where Livia used to sit.
Where they used to pass notes.
Where they used to laugh silently during boring lectures.
Osumi (continuing): "Now, who can tell me how this Arci produces Arcnus?"
A brief silence.
Then—without thinking—
Elysia answered.
Her voice was calm, steady, and precise.
Elysia: "When these Arci get fluxioned, they accumulate at the Blivein. The flow of these Arci in the Blivein makes the Arcnus. And when the host uses their conscious, the Arcnus is channeled through it and managed as per the host’s will."
A pause.
Then—
The entire class turned to look at her.
Like she had just said something completely alien.
Because she had.
This wasn’t common knowledge.
This was root knowledge.
Something far deeper than what was taught in class.
Osumi (blinking, slightly shocked): "That… that’s correct."
She paused, studying Elysia with curiosity.
Osumi (more carefully now): "And… it’s good to see you back, Elysia."
She meant it.
But she was also wondering—how did Elysia know this?
Even Osumi herself had never learned it in such detail.
Elysia swallowed.
Her own mind raced.
"Where did that come from?"
She hadn’t studied that.
She didn’t even know she knew it.
Her hands clenched slightly under the desk.
Elysia (hesitant, confused): "Th… thank you, Wigor."
But when she turned to look at her classmates…
They were all staring at her.
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MEDISA’S OFFICE – THE PLAN TO LURE THE SUSPECT
Far from the lecture halls, in a room filled with floating holographic screens and security reports, Medisa and Sattira Dyn stood facing each other.
The air between them was heavy.
Dyn stood near the window, watching the city outside, arms crossed.
A small chuckle left her lips.
Dyn (casually, but with a sharp edge): "Suspect." (she chuckled, shaking her head) "Suspect is just an illusion we create to convince ourselves we have someone to capture."
Then—she turned to Medisa.
Her usual smirk faded.
Her eyes were serious now.
Dyn (firmly, directly): "Medisa… I don’t suspect."
Medisa didn’t react.
Didn’t blink.
Didn’t even move.
Her cold, calculating gaze met Dyn’s.
Her next words were simple.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Medisa (calm, direct): "Can you expose her?"
Dyn didn’t answer right away.
Instead—she walked over to a chair and sat down slowly.
Then—she smirked.
Dyn (leaning back, teasing): "You know… you should add a few more words when you talk."
Medisa simply stared.
Unmoved.
Dyn sighed dramatically.
Then—she grinned.
Dyn (relaxing in the chair, finally serious): "Okay. Fine. I need to lure her out."
Medisa’s gaze narrowed.
Medisa (calmly, but expectantly): "With what?"
Dyn’s smirk widened.
She leaned forward, elbows resting on her knees.
Her next word was clear.
Dyn (with certainty): "HoldForth."
A sharp silence.
Then—
Medisa (flatly, immediately): "Denied."
Dyn wasn’t surprised.
But she was prepared.
She tilted her head slightly, pushing forward.
Dyn (persuasive, with a knowing smirk): "Come on, Medisa. Cami said she sensed Vyshek. It’s our only way to trap her."
Medisa watched her carefully.
Considering.
Measuring.
Then, Dyn added something else.
Something Medisa couldn’t ignore.
Dyn (leaning in, voice dropping slightly): "Plus… it’s the fastest way too."
A long silence.
Medisa stared at her.
Her mind calculating the risks.
If it failed, HoldForth would be compromised.
If it worked—they would catch her.
Or—
She would trap herself.
Finally—
Medisa spoke.
Medisa (firm, testing): "If it fails?"
Dyn grinned.
She already knew the answer.
Dyn (smirking, eyes gleaming): "It won’t."
She stood up.
Dyn (confidently, playfully): "Either we catch her, or she gets trapped. Either way—we win."
Medisa watched her for a long moment.
Then—
Finally—
She nodded.
Medisa (simply): "Plan?"
Dyn smiled.
A real smile.
Because Medisa had agreed.
And now—it was time.
THE TRAP – A BATTLE IN THE DARK
The night was silent.
Too silent.
A lone figure lurked in the shadows, hidden in the folds of darkness.
She moved with purpose.
With determination.
Wrapped in a thick, dark purple tunic, she was ready.
Tonight, she knew the HoldForth had been moved.
Its security tightened.
Its secrets locked away.
Yet—
As she approached the new location, her sharp eyes scanned the area.
Something was off.
No guards.
No Sattira.
Nothing.
A perfect entry.
She moved silently, blending into the darkness.
There was only one guard standing before the gate.
She never saw her coming.
A swift strike—and she was down.
She bent down, grabbed the key from her belt, and unlocked the gate.
It clicked open.
She stepped inside.
And that’s when she felt it.
A trap.
A place like HoldForth, which had been moved under heavy security, now unguarded?
Her instincts screamed.
She spun around—
But it was too late.
The gate slammed shut behind her.
Locked.
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CAUGHT – THE FIGHT FOR ESCAPE
A perfect trap.
Set by Dyn.
And now—she was caught.
But she was no ordinary intruder.
She was a Vyshek.
She turned, her piercing eyes scanning the vast HoldForth.
She needed something.
Something powerful.
Something that could get her out.
She moved quickly, weaving through the shelves and rags of books.
Ancient texts, some locked in enchanted shackles.
And then—she found it.
Shrishgic.
A book of forbidden spells.
She reached for it—but the moment her hands touched the shackled book, pain seared through her skin.
The enchantment burned deep.
A scarlet mark formed on her palm.
She ignored it.
She had no time for pain.
She opened the book, flipping rapidly through pages.
She knew what she needed.
And there it was.
A spell for a destructive blast.
A spell to break free.
But just as she was about to cast it—
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THE SATTIRA ARRIVE
A voice cut through the silence.
Rashily: "Put the book down. I won’t ask twice."
She didn’t stop.
Didn’t even acknowledge them.
Her fingers traced the runes, channeling the arcane energy.
But it was too late.
The Rashily’s hand glowed purple, ready to strike.
So did hers.
A sharp, deadly pulse of arcane energy exploded from her palm—
Hitting the Rashily first.
The force threw her back, slamming her into the shelves.
A loud crash.
The battle had begun.
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THE FIGHT IN THE HOLDFORTH
The room erupted in chaos.
The Sattira and Rashily spread out, forming a circle.
Their hands glowed, arcane energy crackling in the air.
She moved.
Swift. Silent. Deadly.
They tried to corner her—
But she was already moving.
Between the shelves.
Between the books.
Her footsteps barely a whisper.
But the lights—
The lights exposed her.
The glow illuminated the thick purple tunic.
She wasn’t hidden anymore.
And so—she took them out.
One by one.
Lights shattered.
Glass rained down.
The room darkened.
The Sattira struggled to see.
She struck hard. Fast.
A Rashily fell.
Then another.
One by one.
She didn’t hesitate.
Didn’t hold back.
Until—
She stopped.
Because someone stood before her.
Waiting.
Watching.
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THE FINAL STAND – DYN VS. THE INTRUDER
Dyn.
Her eyes sharp. Focused. Unshaken.
She didn’t attack.
Didn’t move.
She just spoke.
Dyn (calm, firm): "STOP!"
Her voice echoed through the HoldForth.
The intruder stood still.
Her hood down, her face hidden.
Dyn (stepping closer): "You can’t get out of here. Turn around. Show me your face."
The figure didn’t move.
Didn’t speak.
Behind Dyn, the remaining Rashily and Sattira were closing in.
The room was surrounded.
And yet—
She didn’t surrender.
She made her choice.
In an instant—arcane energy pulsed from her hands.
A blast.
Directly at the Sattira.
They couldn’t dodge in time.
One was thrown back into the wall.
And in that small opening—
She ran.
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THE CHASE – A NARROW ESCAPE
Dyn reacted instantly.
She summoned her Arcane, forming a Chakra.
And she threw it.
The spinning disc of energy sliced through the air—
And hit its target.
The intruder staggered, pain searing through her leg.
A deep wound.
She faltered—just for a second.
But she didn’t stop.
She kept running.
Dyn rushed after her.
She reached the corridor—
But she was already gone.
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THE AFTERMATH – A BITTER FAILURE
Dyn stopped.
Her hands clenched into fists.
She turned back to the HoldForth.
The battlefield.
Books scattered.
Shelves broken.
Sattira and Rashily injured.
And—
The book of Shrishgic—gone.
She exhaled slowly.
A sharp, frustrated breath.
Then, she whispered to herself—
A bitter, quiet admission.
Dyn (low, defeated): "I failed."