—Alexia—
Magical Theory had started like any other day, Professor Embers sketching glowing ley lines across the chalkboard while half the class pretended to take notes. But the tension in the room was thick enough to choke on.
Across the aisle, the three students-the witches and the earth-shifter who had attacked Zeus—sat whispering behind raised hands, eyes flicking toward me with thinly veiled fear.
"She's chaos, and she's dangerous," the taller witch hissed, just loud enough for me to hear.
"I heard she nearly burned down the courtyard," the earth-shifter muttered, tapping his pen in an anxious rhythm, green sparks flickering at his fingertips.
"She's the dragon's pet now," the other witch sneered, her gaze sharp. "Probably thinks she's untouchable."
Jasper's coin stilled mid-flip, glinting under the rune-light.
"Watch your mouths," he said, quietly but with an edge.
They glared, but I stayed silent, pressing my palm against my thigh, chaos humming under my skin like an unstruck match.
Professor Embers cleared his throat, the runes on the board pulsing. "Focus on your glyph work, not rumors."
The whispers didn't end, and the fear in their eyes didn't fade. The chaos in me didn't rise, but it didn't leave either. When the bell rang, tension followed us out like a storm cloud waiting to break.
Outside the classroom
The trio blocked the exit, eyes glittering with challenge.
"She's chaos, and she's dangerous," the taller witch spat, water shimmering at her fingertips.
"You don't belong here," the earth-shifter growled, magic pulsing beneath his boots, hairline cracks snaking across the tile.
Jasper stood at my side, flipping his coin with steady rhythm. "Back off."
"Everyone's just waiting for her to snap again," the shorter witch sneered.
Chaos stirred, hungry. I pressed a hand to my thigh, grounding in the bond with Finn.
"No," I said, stepping forward. "I'm not running anymore."
The taller witch flicked her wrist, a whip of water crackling into existence, blue sparks dancing along its length. Gasps and shrieks echoed as students scrambled back.
The chaos in me pulsed, steady. I lifted my hand, letting purple-gold flame unfurl, wrapping around my wrist like a living spiral. The whip lashed out. I thrust my hand forward. Flame met water with a crack, violet steam bursting outward, warm rain and static heat swirling before fading. Silence.
"I said enough," I repeated, voice calm.
The witch's eyes widened. Her water whip fell into harmless droplets on the floor.
The doors slammed open. Finn, Soren, and Kaia stormed in, magic rippling around them like a living promise.
Finn's gaze locked on the trio, heat shimmering around him. "Leave her alone."
Soren's voice was cold steel. "Now."
Kaia's fingertips sparked with blue lightning. "Try it again, see what happens."
The trio faltered, fear replacing arrogance, and stepped back.
Jasper's coin disappeared into his pocket. "Smart choice."
Chaos settled warm under my skin as Zeus pressed against my leg, grounding me. That was when the world shifted.
A gust of cold wind tore down the hallway, sending papers skittering like frightened birds. The air thickened, pressing against my skin, carrying a sharp scent of ozone and metal. A faint crackle hummed in the silence, raising the fine hairs on my arms. The air shimmered—and five figures stepped through, robes dark as storm clouds, gold and silver sigils gleaming on their collars. The Council. The taller witch gasped, paling. Students froze, the hallway swallowing sound.
An older fae stepped forward, eyes like shattered ice, gaze sweeping over the scene before settling on me—and the purple-gold flame still curling around my wrist.
"So," he said, voice smooth, cold, "this is the chaos witch we've heard so much about."
Finn stepped forward, jaw tight, heat pulsing around him. "She's under our protection."
The Council member's lips curled faintly, not a smile, but something sharper. "We are aware, dragon prince. And aware the headmistress did not inform us herself."
His gaze returned to me, studying like I was a puzzle he intended to solve.
"Alexia Mae Carter," he said, each word deliberate, echoing down the hall, "by order of the High Council of the Fivefold Accord, you are summoned for evaluation."
Gasps rippled around us, fear and curiosity sparking. Kaia slipped her hand into mine, grip fierce. Soren's eyes flickered, calculating. Jasper's smirk slipped, going sharp. Finn's hand brushed my back, the bond pulsing steady.
"You're not alone," he whispered.
The Council member extended his hand toward me.
"Come," he said. "It is time."
The chaos inside me pulsed once, alive but calm. I lifted my chin, meeting his gaze without flinching.
"Okay," I said softly. "Let's see what they want."
As the Council turned, leading us toward whatever lay ahead, the chaos inside me steadied. The fire was warm, not wild. For the first time, I wasn't stepping into the unknown alone. Something was coming. And I was ready.