Raven stood at the edge of the shattered west tower, her chest heaving as the last echoes of the vortex's collapse faded. A cold wind swept through the tower, tugging at her coat and carrying with it the faint scent of rain. The mark on her arm still pulsed faintly, its glow fading into the dim light.
Elias paced nearby, his hand gripping the hilt of his blade. "They'll know what we did. The Covenant doesn't take lightly to being frustrated."
"Good," Raven said, her voice sharp. "Let them come. I've had enough of their lurking in the shadows."
Corvus flapped his wings, landing on a broken stone ledge. "Arrogance will not win this battle, Raven. They'll come prepared, and you're not ready to face them."
Raven turned to face him, her eyes blazing. "Then what do you suggest? Hiding? Waiting for them to pick us off one by one?"
Corvus tilted his head. "No. But we need allies—someone who knows the Covenant's strategies. Someone who can give us an edge."
Elias frowned, his gaze flicking to Raven. "You're not suggesting—"
"The Enigmatic One," Corvus interrupted. "They've fought the Covenant before. If anyone can help, it's them."
Raven arched an eyebrow. "The Enigmatic One? That sounds like a bad joke."
"It's not," Elias said, his tone grim. "They're a rogue operative—used to be part of the Covenant until they turned against them. No one knows their real name, but they've been a thorn in the Covenant's side for years."
"And why haven't they been captured?" Raven asked, crossing her arms.
Corvus let out a low caw. "Because they're smarter than the Covenant. And because they don't trust anyone."
"Great," Raven muttered. "A paranoid hermit. Just what we need."
Elias stepped forward. "They're our best shot. But finding them won't be easy."
"Do we have a choice?" Raven asked, brushing past him. "Let's go."
The journey to the Enigmatic One's supposed hideout took them deep into the heart of Ravenwood's forbidden grounds. The forest surrounding the academy was dense and unyielding, its ancient trees towering high into the misty sky. Every step felt like a risk, the shadows between the trees alive with unseen threats.
"This place gives me the creeps," Raven said, clutching the dagger Elias had given her.
"That's the point," Elias replied, his voice hushed. "No one comes here willingly."
Corvus flew ahead, his black feathers blending seamlessly with the gloom. "Keep your wits about you. The Covenant isn't the only danger here."
Raven rolled her eyes. "Thanks for the comforting thought."
As they pushed deeper into the forest, they came upon a crumbling stone structure half-hidden by vines and moss. Its arched doorway was marked with strange symbols that glowed faintly in the fading light.
"This is it," Elias said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Raven stepped forward, eyeing the symbols warily. "Let me guess. Some kind of ward?"
"Not just any ward," Elias said. "It's designed to repel anyone with ill intentions. Step through, and it'll judge you."
"Judge me?" Raven asked incredulously. "What is this, magical court?"
Corvus landed beside her. "It's no joke, Raven. If the ward deems you unworthy, it won't let you in."
Raven hesitated, her gaze flicking between Elias and the doorway. "And what happens if it doesn't like me?"
Elias shrugged. "You don't want to find out."
"Fantastic," Raven muttered. She took a deep breath, then stepped through the archway.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then the symbols flared to life, their light enveloping her in a warm glow. The sensation was strange—not painful, but probing, as though the magic were peeling back layers of her soul.
The light faded, and the symbols dimmed.
"Well?" Raven called back to Elias. "Are you coming, or are you afraid it'll judge your bad haircut?"
Elias smirked faintly, then stepped through the archway himself. Corvus followed silently.
Inside, the structure opened into a vast, dimly lit chamber. The walls were lined with shelves overflowing with books, artifacts, and strange glowing objects. At the center of the room stood a figure cloaked in dark robes, their face obscured by a silver mask.
"Who dares enter my sanctum uninvited?" the figure demanded, their voice low and distorted.
"Charming," Raven muttered under her breath. She stepped forward, meeting the figure's gaze—or at least where she thought their gaze might be. "We need your help."
The Enigmatic One tilted their head. "Do you now? And why should I care?"
Raven held up her arm, the mark glowing faintly in the chamber's light. "Because the Covenant's after me. And because I'm the only one who can stop them."
The figure was silent for a long moment. Then they laughed—a cold, bitter sound that echoed through the chamber.
"Bold claims for someone so young," they said. "What makes you think you're capable of stopping the Covenant?"
"Because I have to be," Raven replied, her voice steady. "Because if I don't, no one else will."
The Enigmatic One stepped closer, their silver mask gleaming in the light. "The mark chose you. That much is clear. But power alone won't save you. Do you have the will to use it?"
Raven met their gaze unflinchingly. "Try me."
The Enigmatic One regarded her for a moment longer, then turned away. "The Covenant is relentless. They'll stop at nothing to claim that power for themselves. If you wish to fight them, you'll need more than bravado."
"That's why we're here," Elias said, speaking up for the first time. "We need your knowledge. Your experience."
The Enigmatic One paused, then gestured to the shelves around them. "Everything you need to know is here. But knowledge alone won't save you. Are you prepared to face what lies ahead?"
Raven glanced at Elias, then back at the Enigmatic One. "I don't have a choice."
"Good," the figure said. "Because there's no turning back now."
The rest of the evening was spent poring over ancient texts and maps, each one revealing fragments of the Covenant's history and their obsession with the mark. Raven's head swam with information, but one detail stood out above all others:
The Covenant's leader, known only as the Veiled One, had been searching for the mark for centuries. And now, they were closer than ever to finding it.
"They'll come for you," the Enigmatic One warned as Raven closed the final book. "But you'll have an advantage they don't expect."
"What's that?" Raven asked.
The Enigmatic One leaned closer, their voice dropping to a whisper. "Me."