ight-Henry didn't go back to bed.
His "lesson" was just getting started.
After walking past Lyra and Kaelen, he stopped, smiled… and vanished. But not like before.
He exploded.
A silent burst of living ink surged from his body, spreading in every direction. Shadows slithered under doors, through cracks, up walls like hungry vines.
Across the Academy, students shot awake—no sound, just an icy dread sinking into their dreams and yanking them out of bed. Shadows danced on walls, twisted unnaturally. Lights flickered and died.
Panic spread like wildfire.
In the central courtyard—the academy's open-air amphitheater—every shadow converged. They rose up onto the stage, fusing into Night-Henry's shape. The sky above went pitch-black… except for one sharp beam of pale moonlight casting him in an eerie spotlight.
Students, teachers—even Headmistress Elara—rushed to balconies and walkways, drawn by a magnetic terror. He hadn't summoned them. He commanded them.
"You look at me and see a mystery," he said, his voice magically amplified. Calm. Crisp. Chilling. "You call me weak. Unstable. A mistake. You're wrong."
The shadows stirred. Tendrils of darkness crept across the floor toward the crowd.
"I'm your new reality," he continued. "This academy and its rules? Lies. I'm the truth you ignore. The power you fear."
His crimson gaze swept the crowd, locking eyes one by one.
"So here's your only lesson. The one that matters."
His voice dropped—quiet, deadly.
"Don't cross me. Don't test me. Don't stand in my way."
A few shadow tendrils touched boots—someone whimpered.
"Because if you do…" His grin turned monstrous. "…you'll die."
Up in the tower, Tsukuyomi laughed—hard. Full-blown joy. Tears of pride. "Yes! Yes! Show them! Show them all what real power looks like!"
But before the darkness could strike…
The sky erupted in light.
Helia appeared—not floating, but blazing. She screamed—not in fear, but fury—and raised her hands. Between them, a golden orb swelled—a mini sun, flooding the academy with scorching false daylight.
On the stage, Night-Henry screamed—inhuman, primal. The light scorched him. Shadows peeled off. His form unraveled. His black hair turned white. His red eyes dimmed.
But this time… the pain wasn't all-consuming.
His body had adapted.
The transition was quicker.
He collapsed on the stage—Day-Henry again—and passed out.
Just for a few minutes.
When he came to, groaning, the first thing he saw was the trio standing over him: Elara, Master Kael… and Helia.
The false sun was gone. Real morning light bled across the horizon. The courtyard was empty. The students had been sent away.
"What… happened?" Henry whispered, voice hoarse.
No one answered.
Elara and Kael exchanged a heavy look.
Teaching Henry was no longer the goal.
Surviving him was.