The prison chamber hummed quietly, a circular room surrounded by a glowing forcefield that pulsed with protective runes.
Alexa lay on the floor inside.
Outside the barrier stood everyone — Tedros, Ariella, Sarah, Valerina, Mia, Wendy, Stella, Ferah, Principal Elowen, Headmistress Seraphine, and Instructor Kai.
No one spoke.
They simply waited.
Alexa stirred.
Her fingers moved… then she slowly pushed herself up, brushing her hair back as she looked around.
Her brows furrowed.
"…Why am I locked up in a cell exactly?"
Her voice echoed softly.
Seraphine stepped forward, hands clasped behind her back.
"Well," she said carefully, "you've been through a lot. How are you feeling?"
Alexa's expression tightened.
"I don't know how I'm feeling," she snapped. "Maybe I should feel like asking someone why she put a sleeping drug in my body."
Her gaze locked onto Sarah.
Sarah's breath caught. "Alexa… I'm sorry. It was to protect you."
Alexa took a step toward the barrier. "Protect me from what?"
Valerina exchanged a glance with Sarah, then stepped forward slowly.
"You don't remember… any time you do it, do you?"
Alexa frowned. "Remember what?"
Valerina swallowed.
"In the Headmistress's office… you killed someone. Someone Arcadia has feared for years. Isolde Duchannes. With a snap of your fingers."
A heavy silence fell.
Ariella stepped closer, gripping the barrier lightly.
"Alexa… listen to me. There's something inside you. Some kind of ITE magic. It wants to control you. You have to fight it."
Alexa stood still.
Too still.
Then her shoulders relaxed.
Her eyes shifted — yellow at first — then flickering orange lines danced faintly across her face.
"She did," Alexa said softly.
Everyone stiffened.
Then her voice deepened — layered, echoing.
"…and lost."
Mia whispered, "That's not her…"
Kai quietly readied a defensive stance.
Elowen steadied her voice. "Alexa… don't worry. We will figure this out. We will find a way to remove whatever is influencing you."
Alexa smiled — slow and unsettling.
"I don't need to be free," she said calmly. "I already am."
She looked around at each of them.
"Well… it took you all long enough to notice. But I will be going now."
Seraphine stepped forward sharply. "You go nowhere. This forcefield prevents exit."
Alexa tilted her head, curious.
"Does it?"
Her eyes flashed orange.
She lifted her hand.
A pulse of orange energy surged outward — the barrier cracked like glass.
"Brace!" Kai shouted.
With a sharp tearing sound, the forcefield shattered.
"Mmm," Alexa murmured. "That was inconvenient."
She stepped forward.
"Might need you all to take your positions."
She thrust her hands outward — wind spiraled violently, flames burst — tearing apart the chamber walls.
"Move!" Tedros shouted.
Everyone rushed out toward the courtyard.
—
Students had gathered, murmuring nervously.
At the center stood Alexa.
Her hair now fully orange, glowing softly like embers. Her clothes had shifted — flowing orange fabric moving as if alive.
Ariella stepped forward slowly, hands raised.
"Alexa… please. You don't want to do this."
Alexa smiled gently. "Come on, sis. What could you possibly gain staying here? You're powerful. We don't need this weak school teaching us what to do."
She glanced at Sarah and Valerina.
"Trying so hard not to hate me," she said quietly. "Interesting."
Valerina shook her head. "We're not leaving you."
Sarah stepped beside her. "We're here. No matter what."
Alexa sighed softly. "Well… if I can't convince you, I'll convince our parents. Or yours. Any of them will do."
She turned toward the watching students.
"What are you waiting for?" she called. "You have guests."
Her hands ignited smoky orange.
Shapes rose from the ground — shadow creatures forming.
"You don't get real training here," Alexa said calmly. "Think of this as advanced class. They could kill you… but at least we'll know who's capable."
She laughed quietly.
Sarah shouted, "You can't leave! The forcefield won't let you!"
Alexa's eyes burned brighter.
Her voice layered — powerful.
"I am the ITE. I cross anything."
A massive whirlwind of orange smoke erupted.
Alexa vanished.
—
"Everyone ready!" Kai shouted.
Creatures surged forward.
Wendy unleashed waves of water, slamming into them.
Valerina hurled lightning bolts, crackling across the courtyard.
Tedros fought with precise strikes, cutting through shadows.
But more kept coming.
Sarah shouted, "Stella — your light!"
Stella hesitated. "They're orange — will it work?"
Valerina yelled, "Shadows are still shadows!"
Sarah gathered wind, pulling creatures together.
"Wendy — push them inward!"
"On it!" Wendy said, summoning a torrent.
Ferah slammed the ground, forcing creatures into a tight cluster.
"NOW!" Sarah shouted.
Stella raised both hands.
A massive burst of radiant light exploded outward — blinding brilliance.
The creatures screamed — dissolving instantly.
Silence returned.
Sarah panted.
Valerina bumped her fist lightly. "Nice plan."
Tedros looked around urgently. "Where is Alexa now…"
Elowen spoke firmly.
"To the Richardsons. We go immediately."
Ariella nodded, eyes determined.
"Let's bring her back."
And together — they prepared to leave.