The morning after, Selwyn's vision passed in a haze. The words still echoed in his mind—the traitor walks among you, carving a pit of unease in his chest. He hadn't told the others yet. Not because he didn't trust them, but because he wasn't sure what the message meant. Not yet.
But fate didn't wait for him to figure it out.
That evening, as the four of them took a shortcut through the east wing courtyard—deserted and choked with overgrown vines—they were ambushed.
It began with the temperature plummeting.
Jason stopped mid-step. "You guys feel that?"
Sofia's breath fogged. "It's like last time... but worse."
Before they could react, shadows burst from the treetops like ink spilled in water, converging into a writhing form — a cursed entity, its limbs elongated and flickering, face indistinct, but its hatred palpable.
It lunged.
Selwyn didn't hesitate.
Mana surged beneath his skin, answering his will. Blue arcs of energy erupted from his palm as he launched a barrier between them and the entity. The force of the blast knocked it back—but only for a moment.
Raven stepped forward, eyes narrowing. Her body shimmered faintly as her aura flared violet. She moved like a liquid shadow, fast and precise, striking with precision that no normal human could match.
Jason and Sofia stared, rooted to the ground.
The entity screeched, retaliating with a shriek that made the glass of nearby windows rattle. Tendrils of cursed mist spiralled out, one aiming straight for Jason.
Selwyn pivoted, yelling, "Jason—move!"
Jason ducked too late—but before the mist could reach him, Raven threw a dagger infused with mana, cutting clean through the tendril.
The attack paused. The shadow hissed… and then retreated into the darkness.
Silence fell like a hammer.
Jason's eyes were wide. "What... what the hell was that?"
"No more half-truths," Selwyn said quietly, breathing hard. "You deserve the full story."
They regrouped behind the greenhouse, where they wouldn't be seen. There, Selwyn and Raven finally laid it all out.
They told them about the world of Rogues—an ancient, hidden order of individuals born with the ability to channel mana, a natural energy that flows through all living things. Some were born with an affinity, others had to train themselves to connect with it. They explained the four main factions: The Concord of Ashes, masters of innovation and rogue tools; the Eternal Summit, spiritual and wise manipulators of pure mana; the Obsidian Crown, the diplomats and spies of the underground world; and the Whispering Moon, elite assassins and stealth operatives.
They revealed their own backgrounds—how Selwyn and Raven were born into this hidden world. How, before the semester break, they had trained in secret to strengthen their abilities and prepare for whatever threat was stirring in Ashford. How the signs had begun even before the break—the unnatural dreams, the vanishing students, the faint energy signatures around cursed places. And how using mana wasn't just about power, but discipline, will, and focus. Anyone could learn to sense it under the right conditions, but only some could wield it.
Finally, they spoke of the Nihilum Legion. A rogue faction was cast out for corrupting mana, twisting it into something dangerous. They were the ones who thrived on chaos, and they were likely behind the curse plaguing Ashford.
Jason was pale by the end of it. "So you're telling me… magic's real. You two are part of this secret Rogue world. And the thing attacking students is… what, a cursed spirit weaponized by some dark faction?"
"Not a weapon. A message," Raven corrected. "Or maybe both."
As if summoned by the thought, a figure emerged from the shadows near the ivy-covered wall.
"Glad to see you finally started talking," Cal said, arms crossed. He looked as imposing as ever, his voice low and steady. "We don't have time for slow reveals. The curse—it's not random. Someone's using it. Feeding it."
Sofia stiffened. "Who?"
Cal's eyes darkened. "There's a Nihilum agent inside the academy. I haven't confirmed their identity yet, but they've hijacked the old battlefield's lingering mana to anchor the curse. Every disappearance is strengthening the link between the spirit and this place."
Jason shook his head, struggling to keep up. "This is insane. It's like I stepped into a fantasy novel."
Selwyn glanced at him. "You okay?"
Jason hesitated. Then said, "I've… been having nightmares. For weeks now. About shadows. About someone drowning in whispers. I thought they were just dreams, but… they feel real."
Cal raised an eyebrow. "That's not coincidence."
Sofia sat down on the stone ledge, already pulling a notepad from her bag. "So mana follows certain rules? Can non-Rogues interact with it at all? Could Jason's nightmares be… a result of ambient exposure?"
Raven grinned faintly. "Told you she'd handle it better than you."
Jason shot her a look. "Not helping."
Selwyn smiled despite himself. "We'll figure this out. Together."
They all nodded. Jason and Sofia might not have had powers, but they weren't helpless.
Not anymore.