The morning fog in Virelia was thicker than usual.
Kat stood at the school gates, arms folded against the chill, watching the buses from the Academy of Magical Studies pull into the lot. They were sleek, silver-lined, and humming with quiet enchantments. Students in navy robes stepped out, their eyes scanning the unfamiliar terrain of Virelia High.
"Why do they look like they're about to duel someone?" James muttered beside her.
"They probably are," Aria replied, handing him a granola bar. "It's a magical school. Drama is part of the curriculum."
Kat smirked but stayed quiet. Her eyes were fixed on the last student stepping off the bus—a boy with dark, tousled hair and a half-buttoned robe. He looked… different. Not just in appearance, but in energy. Like he was trying to blend in and failing miserably.
"That's Junior Sebastian," Sage said, appearing behind them with a book in hand. "Half-demon wolf hybrid. Top of his class. Transferring temporarily."
James raised an eyebrow. "Why's he here?"
"Excursion," Sage replied. "They're touring the cathedral's spiritual wing. It's part of their myth-history module."
Kat tilted her head. "Why our school, though?"
"Because Virelia High sits closest to the leyline convergence. The cathedral's seal is tied to it."
Aria frowned. "Seal?"
Sage looked at her, then at Kat. "There's a scroll in the cathedral. It's said to hold a spirit. A dangerous one. The Academy's been studying it for years."
Kat's stomach tightened. "And they're just… letting students near it?"
"Under supervision," Sage said. "But still. It's risky."
The principal, Mr. Whittingham, stepped out of the building, his usual calm demeanor intact. He greeted the Academy staff with polite nods and ushered them toward the courtyard. His eyes passed over Kat and her friends, lingering for a moment longer than usual.
Kat felt a chill.
—
The students gathered in the auditorium for a briefing. Kat sat with her friends near the back, watching the magical students whisper among themselves. Junior Sebastian sat alone, flipping through a small leather-bound notebook.
Mr. Whittingham took the stage.
"Today marks a rare collaboration between Virelia High and the Academy of Magical Studies," he began. "You'll be visiting the cathedral's spiritual wing—a place of historical and mythological significance. You are to observe, not interfere."
His eyes swept the room.
"Do not touch anything."
Kat glanced at Junior. He wasn't listening. His eyes were fixed on the notebook, his fingers tracing a symbol on the page.
—
The buses rolled out mid-morning. Kat and her friends weren't part of the excursion, but curiosity kept them close. They followed on foot, taking the long route through the city's winding streets.
The cathedral loomed ahead, its spires piercing the fog. The stained glass windows shimmered faintly, casting colored light onto the cobblestone path.
Inside, the magical students moved in small groups, guided by robed instructors. Kat and her friends stayed near the entrance, pretending to be part of the crowd.
Junior slipped away.
Kat noticed.
"Where's he going?" she whispered.
James followed her gaze. "Looks like he's heading toward the altar."
Sage's eyes narrowed. "He shouldn't be doing that."
They moved quietly, trailing Junior through the side aisles. He reached the altar, paused, then knelt before a small box embedded in the stone.
Kat's breath caught.
He touched it.
Just a brush of fingers. Then a whisper.
The box pulsed.
A crack split the air—soft, but sharp. The temperature dropped. The stained glass flickered. Kat felt something move through her chest, like a breath stolen from the inside.
Junior stumbled back, eyes wide.
"What did you do?" Sage hissed, grabbing his arm.
"I didn't mean to," Junior said, voice shaking. "I just… I thought it was safe."
Kat stepped forward. "What was that?"
Junior looked at her, guilt etched into every line of his face.
"I think I broke the seal."
—
They left the cathedral in silence.
The instructors hadn't noticed. The other students were still distracted by the relics and runes. But Kat and her friends knew something had changed.
Back at school, Mr. Whittingham greeted the returning students with his usual calm. He smiled at Junior. Too warmly.
Kat watched the exchange, unease curling in her stomach.
That night, she sat by her window again, staring into the fog.
A shadow moved across the cathedral's highest spire.
It wasn't the wind.
It was watching.
And it had been released.