Prof. Louis – Outside. Now.
Everyone moves out into the street. There, beneath the dim glow of the night, ten hooded silhouettes stand waiting. The largest figure at the center steps forward.
Hooded Figure 1 – The girl inside belongs to me.
Gregor smirks.
Gregor – Funny. She never mentioned being in such a serious relationship.
Hooded Figure 1 – You're amusing. I'd love to gut you right here in front of these people who seem to care about you.
I'll say this once: hand over the girl and you'll walk away without a scratch. Otherwise, everyone—and I mean everyone—dies.
Gregor – That your big speech? You must've practiced.
Mandy pales.
Mandy – That voice… is it you…?
Violet sways slightly. Alicia notices and moves closer.
Hooded Figure 1 – I'm growing tired of your jokes. Last chance.
Mandy – You're Sylas. That voice is unmistakable.
The figure stiffens.
Hooded Figure 1 – That name… I haven't heard it in a long time. Not since I left everything behind. How do you know that name, insignificant creature?
Mandy – We studied together. And yes—I was there the day you kidnapped that girl.
A pause.
Hooded Figure 1 – I remember you. Amanda. So I can assume she's here too.
Mandy – Yes. Your sister is here.
His tone turns cold as ice.
Hooded Figure 1 – I haven't had a sister since the day I chose to follow the sacred and immaculate Annora.
Mandy – Sylas, you—
Hooded Figure 1 – My name is no longer Sylas. It is Agnus.
Gregor cracks his knuckles.
Gregor – Call yourself whatever you want. I'm still ending you.
Agnus – You just signed your sentence.
He raises his hand. All the hooded figures draw their weapons at once, perfectly still.
Agnus steps back, sits on a bench, smiles—and gestures for the attack to begin.
Violet's heart shatters at his words.
One of the hooded figures fires a mass of shadow toward Gregor. It misses—and slams into Violet, hurling her against the small front balcony.
Alicia bolts toward her, nearly abandoning the fight. Khawlah follows.
Khawlah kneels, using her psychic analysis to assess Violet's state. It isn't the blow—it's the words. The brother she saw as a hero. The brother who vanished. Now standing there, denying her existence.
Khawlah shakes her gently.
Khawlah – Violet, stay with me. He said he's not your brother. Then reject him too.
No response.
Violet's thoughts spiral:
What did I do wrong?
Am I so terrible that I didn't deserve him back?
Why did he abandon me?
Nearby, Jheysi tries to hide among the bushes.
Estela lifts her ocarina and plays. A soft golden light spreads, enveloping their allies.
Gregor summons Claws of the Black Veil—spectral chains lash through the air, tearing at cloaks and flesh. In the chaos, he accidentally strikes Mandy but doesn't notice.
He charges, ripping hoods away—revealing unnatural smiles beneath. Forced. Twisted.
One hooded mage chants. Dark energy hurtles toward Gregor. He yanks another attacker in front of him as a shield. The shielded cultist grabs him, miasma flooding Gregor's mind—his worst nightmares resurfacing.
Mandy roars, casting Ancestral Colossus. Her body enlarges with immense strength. She smashes the cultist away from Gregor.
But another slips behind her.
A dagger wreathed in black mist plunges into her abdomen.
Mandy gasps. The colossus fades. She collapses.
Gregor punches blindly—striking an invisible attacker and sending him flying.
Gregor – Mandy! No! They hit Mandy!
From inside the house a furious shout echoes:
Voice – WHAT?!
A hooded figure turns toward Violet.
Hooded Figure – I should've killed you in the dormitory. I won't miss this time.
A massive spear of dark energy forms—and pierces Violet, blasting everyone nearby.
Agnus stands, bored.
Agnus – Enough. This is tedious. I thought the Anbuza Clan would send their strongest. This is a joke.
He raises his hand. The remaining hooded figures slam violently into the ground, gravity crushing them.
Shadowy swords manifest above them—impaling each one.
Gregor cradles Mandy and brings her to Khawlah.
Khawlah – I… I can't fix this. Maybe Valeria—or Jheysi, with her secret ability.
Gregor looks around desperately.
Gregor – Where is Jheysi?
Agnus lifts someone by the throat.
Agnus – This annoying insect?
It's Jheysi.
Agnus – Like Icarus, she flew too close to the sun.
Jheysi grips his wrist. With trembling effort she extends her other hand toward Mandy.
Jheysi – I thought… I could…
She whispers:
Jheysi – Blessing of Balance.
Agnus tightens his grip. A sickening crack echoes.
He drops her lifeless body.
A blinding white light descends from the sky, striking Mandy's wound. Mandy rises—restored, whole.
Agnus laughs.
Agnus – She died? I thought she was your greatest conjurer.
Horror freezes everyone.
The door bursts open. Albert steps out.
Agnus falters, stepping back.
Agnus – Y-you rats… I'll kill you all—
Another figure emerges.
Professor Louis.
His fury is terrifying.
Prof. Louis – Sylas. Of all my students, you became the worst. When did I ever teach you this was right? You just murdered an innocent girl.
Agnus trembles.
Professor Louis lifts Jheysi's body with a gesture and hands her to Valeria. She carries her inside.
Suddenly, Kalai appears behind Agnus.
Prof. Louis – Kalai. He's yours. As promised.
Kalai presses a hand to Agnus's neck. Agnus collapses unconscious.
They vanish.
Inside, Rebecca urges everyone in.
They stand around Jheysi's still form.
Alicia's POV
I remember the smell of Valeria's house—cleaning products lingering after my ritual. I remember the fear in all our eyes.
I had so little time with her. I wanted more silly conversations. Just girl talk.
Professor Louis stood beside her body. I cried. My mother was there. Gregor, Estela. But you weren't… you weren't there.
Then he clasped his hands. A grace beyond understanding filled the room. Darkness turned to day. There was no night. No pain.
And I saw you.
You stood. You embraced him. You smiled at me.
Then you disappeared.
I didn't understand then. I do now.
Sonnet of Alicia for Jheysi
For Jheysi, my eternal friend
Your mind, a lantern burning bright,
So rare, so beautiful, so wise;
Through days of laughter, darkest nights,
You stood beside me through the cries.
We dreamed of worlds yet to be born,
Shared whispered hopes no fear could bind;
But cruel fate came with silent storm
And stole your warmth, left none behind.
Yet in the moment we let go,
Beyond the veil our eyes can't see,
Your living smile began to glow.
No blood we shared, no written sign,
Yet sisterhood was truly thine,
Forever friend… eternally mine.
Violet's POV
Violet sits in the grass, staring at nothing.
Albert whispers:
Albert – It should've been me.
Mandy – Don't say something stupid like that.
Albert – I'm not. If I'd been in that fight—
Violet – And what would that change now?!
She grabs his collar.
Violet – TELL ME WHAT THAT CHANGES NOW?!
A brilliant white light erupts from inside the house.
Violet rushes to the window.
She sees Jheysi rise. Smile. Embrace Professor Louis.
And vanish with the light.
Inside:
Violet – What happened to her?
Prof. Louis – She is at peace now. She is with Him. I pleaded—but His will was different.
Violet – With who?
Prof. Louis – When the time is right, He will reveal Himself.
Silence.
Then:
Prof. Louis – This is not the end. Annora still walks this world. And soon, her final chosen—KeySand's—will arrive. She has been fed pure hatred her entire life.
Mandy frowns.
Mandy – Didn't Alicia's father take their strongest?
Prof. Louis – Sylas was strong. But not the strongest. Five clans follow Annora. Today you faced the Sanguinary Veil.
He explains the others:
Sanguinary Veil – blood priests who believe spilled life strengthens their dark bond.
Noite Funesta – heralds of eternal night.
Sombra Profana – heretics who twist reality itself.
And above all, opposing them:
Aurora Divina.
Albert scoffs.
Albert – That's just a legend.
Prof. Louis – We are that legend.
Rebecca adds:
Rebecca – Alicia's father serves in the guard known as the Swords of the Aurora.
They explain why Alicia and Maya couldn't go before—the Sword of Harlen cannot dwell where evil resides.
Finally, Professor Louis asks:
Prof. Louis – Do you want to join the Path? To fight?
One by one:
Maya – Yes.
Khawlah – Yes.
Gregor – Absolutely.
Violet – I refuse to live with regret. Yes.
Alicia – Yes.
Albert – Yes.
Mandy – Wherever he goes, I go.
Professor Louis smiles warmly.
Prof. Louis – Then welcome… to Aurora Divina.
{I once said this story wouldn't have a happy ending.
Maybe I was wrong.
Or maybe I was looking from the wrong angle.
This is only the beginning of my story, as a defender of justice.
And no, I'm not a comic book space heroine.
But thank you… for walking this far with me.}
THE END.