The week following the Astral Hunt left Harper restless. The exhilaration of victory had waned, replaced by an insatiable curiosity. While Celestial Arts lessons and stardust recipes remained captivating, one name echoed persistently in her mind: Malina.
It began innocuously—Luna had mentioned Malina during a study session, but the conversation quickly shifted to potion recipes and the latest gossip about magical beasts. Yet, Harper couldn't shake the unease that settled over her whenever the name surfaced. There was a weight to it, a shadow that seemed to stretch beyond mere legend.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the Academy in hues of amber and rose, Harper found herself drawn to the library. The corridors were quiet, the usual bustle subdued. She navigated the labyrinthine aisles, past shelves that whispered secrets of ages past, until she reached a secluded alcove known to house forbidden texts.
Her fingers hovered over a tome titled The Shadows of Avaloria: Ancient Forces and Their Legacies. The cover was worn, its golden lettering faded, but it pulsed with a magnetic energy. As she opened it, the pages exhaled a scent of ancient ink and forgotten spells.
"Malina of the Shadowblight," the text began, "once a revered mage of the Celestial Order, turned to forbidden knowledge, seeking power beyond comprehension. Cursed with the ability to manipulate the very essence of darkness, she now seeks to envelop Avaloria in eternal night, drawing strength from the void between stars."
Harper's heart pounded. Malina wasn't just a rogue sorceress; she was a former member of the Celestial Order, now wielding dark magic that threatened the very fabric of their world.
A sudden noise jolted her. She looked up to see Nova approaching, concern etched on her face.
"Didn't expect to find you here," Nova said softly.
"I had to know," Harper replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil within. "Malina's real, and she's planning something catastrophic."
Nova's eyes widened as she absorbed the revelation. "We need to be cautious. If this is true, we're facing a threat unlike any before."
Just then, Asher and Luna arrived, their expressions mirroring the gravity of the situation.
"What's going on?" Asher asked, glancing between them.
Harper held up the book. "Malina was once part of the Celestial Order. Now, she aims to plunge Avaloria into darkness."
Luna's face paled. "We have to inform Professor Hawthorne."
Harper hesitated. "We should investigate further ourselves. If Malina's as powerful as this suggests, we need to be prepared."
Nova nodded. "Agreed. But we must tread carefully. Her followers could be anywhere."
They decided to delve deeper into the mystery, planning to reconvene the next day. As they left the library, the stars above shimmered, oblivious to the gathering storm.
Back in her dormitory, Harper lay awake, the weight of their discovery pressing heavily upon her. She knew their journey was just beginning, the path ahead fraught with danger and uncertainty.
As Harper drifted into a restless sleep, a whisper echoed in her mind, chilling and unfamiliar: "You seek the truth, child. But are you prepared to face it?"
Her eyes snapped open, heart racing. The room was silent, but the voice lingered, a harbinger of the darkness to come.