Lina and Nia moved quickly through the dark halls. Nia walked in front, her steps light and quiet. She knew the hidden paths of the academy better than anyone.
"We have to hurry," Nia whispered, not looking back. "If Elias dies, the lock breaks. The thing beneath the stone will feel it."
Lina's chest ached. Her stolen voice felt like dry sand in her throat. "Where exactly is he?"
"The old greenhouse," Nia said. "He was on cleaning duty tonight. The echo said the walls were closing in. The greenhouse has glass walls. When the vines grow over them at night, it feels like a cage."
They reached the heavy glass doors of the greenhouse. The air inside was thick and hot. It smelled like wet dirt and rotting flowers.
Lina pushed the door open. The hinges squeaked loudly.
Inside, the plants had grown wild. Thick, green vines crawled up the glass walls. Because of Reyon's broken magic, the sticky illusions made the vines look like they were moving. Shadows twisted in the corners. It was hard to tell what was a real plant and what was a fake trick of the light.
"Elias?" Lina called out softly.
A small sob came from the back of the room.
Lina and Nia ran down the narrow dirt path. At the very back, hidden behind a large, dead oak tree, they found him.
Elias was sitting on the ground. His knees were pulled to his chest. He was crying silently. He looked completely unharmed, but his eyes were wide with shock.
But he was not alone.
Standing right in front of him was the False Kai.
Lina stopped dead in her tracks. Her heart slammed against her ribs.
The False Kai was standing perfectly still. His hands were clasped behind his back. He was not looking at Elias. He was looking at the door, waiting for them.
When he saw Lina, his lips curved upward into that same empty, wrong smile. He did not blink.
"Hello, Lina," he said. His voice was cheerful and polite. It echoed slightly in the humid air. "And hello, Nia. I did not expect company, but I am glad you came."
Nia stepped in front of Lina, her hands glowing with a faint, defensive magic. "Step away from him," she warned. Her voice was steady, but her hands were shaking.
The False Kai did not move. He just tilted his head. The movement was smooth, but a fraction of a second too slow.
"I am not hurting him," the False Kai said gently. "I am just keeping him safe. The greenhouse is very dark at night. It is easy to get lost."
Elias looked up at Lina, his face pale. "He just... he just stood there," Elias whispered, his voice cracking. "He hasn't moved since I got here. He just watched me."
Lina stared at the boy wearing her friend's face. The False Kai knew they were coming. He had not just found Elias. He had used Elias as bait.
"You knew we would come," Lina said. Her voice was barely a whisper.
The False Kai's smile widened just a little bit. It did not reach his dead, flat eyes.
"Of course I did, Lina," he said softly. "You care so much. You always try to save people. It is your best trait. And your worst one."
He took one slow step forward. The vines around them seemed to tighten.
"Now," the False Kai said, his voice dropping to a gentle, terrifying whisper. "Let us sit down and talk. We have so much to learn about each other."
To be Continued
© Kishtika., 2026
All rights reserved.
Thanks for joining me on this journey today! If you liked this chapter, please consider dropping a Power Stone or leaving a review. It really helps the novel grow, and I appreciate every bit of your support. Happy reading!
Next Chapter Summary for Chapter 108: Trapped in the greenhouse, Lina must use the Three Question Trap to distract the False Kai, but his answers reveal a terrifying secret about the real Kai's past.