The school library was unusually quiet that morning.
Dust floated through the sunlight as Jinx flipped through an old, worn book tucked deep in a forgotten corner. Symbols and ancient scripts filled the pages—some glowing faintly as her fingers brushed over them.
Pixie leaned over her shoulder, sipping her bubble tea.
"So… let me get this straight," she said. "You think that glowing symbol on your body is a curse?"
Jinx shook her head slightly, eyes still scanning the page.
"Not a curse. A seal."
Pixie blinked.
"…That sounds worse."
Jinx exhaled slowly.
"It's tied to an old legend. Something called the Star Flame," she said. "A power sealed inside a girl… meant to stop a war between demons and something even worse."
Pixie's eyes widened dramatically.
"Wait—hold on. Are you telling me you're the chosen one?!"
Jinx let out a small, nervous laugh.
"It's not funny, Pix," she said quietly. "If this is real… then I'm not just human."
Before Pixie could respond—
SLAM.
The book in Jinx's hands snapped shut on its own.
A cold presence filled the air.
"You're not."
Jinx froze.
Dante stepped out from behind the tall shelves, his crimson eyes shadowed.
"The Star Flame isn't a legend," he said. "It's real."
Silence.
"And it's inside you."
Jinx stared at him, her heart skipping.
"You knew?" she asked.
Dante shook his head slightly.
"I suspected," he admitted. "But the rune confirmed it."
His gaze darkened.
"That's why Rika is watching you."
Pixie frowned.
"Watching her? Why?"
Dante's voice dropped.
"Because she wasn't sent here to study."
He looked directly at Jinx.
"She was sent to stop you."
Pixie nearly choked on her drink.
"STOP her?!"
She grabbed Jinx's arm dramatically.
"Girl, you better unlock your powers and burn this whole school down before they try anything!"
Jinx groaned.
"Pixie, this isn't a movie."
But deep down… her hands were already trembling.
The hallway buzzed with students preparing for class.
Ahead of them, Rika walked gracefully, her posture flawless, her presence calm—too calm.
Jinx watched her carefully.
"She doesn't look dangerous," she muttered.
"That's the point."
Dante's voice came from behind her.
Jinx didn't turn, but she felt him close.
"She's older than everyone here," he said quietly. "A sleeper agent from the Crimson Order."
Jinx frowned.
"The Crimson Order?"
Dante's gaze stayed locked on Rika.
"An ancient cult," he explained. "Not vampires. Not demons. Something worse."
Pixie shivered.
"Okay… that sounds illegal."
"They worship chaos," Dante continued. "And they fear balance."
His eyes shifted to Jinx.
"That's what you are."
Jinx raised a brow.
"So what? I'm some kind of light in the darkness?"
Dante's expression softened just a little.
"No," he said.
"You're fire… in a world full of shadows."
Jinx didn't know why, but her chest tightened.
By evening, the training field was empty.
Wind moved softly through the air as glowing sigils formed a circle around Jinx and Dante.
"This is where it starts," Dante said.
Jinx crossed her arms.
"Training me not to accidentally destroy people?"
"Exactly."
She hesitated.
"What if I lose control?"
Dante stepped closer.
"Then I'll be there."
Another step.
"Every time."
His voice softened.
"I'll stand in front of the fire. Always."
Jinx's breath caught.
Dante reached up, gently cupping her cheek.
Her body stilled.
For a moment… she leaned into his touch.
Their foreheads met.
The world went quiet.
"You act like you don't care," Jinx whispered.
"But you're always protecting me."
Dante exhaled softly.
"And you act like you're fine," he replied. "But I can see the weight you carry."
Jinx's heart pounded.
She swallowed.
"Do you love me?"
Silence.
Dante paused.
Then—
A faint smirk.
"You're annoying."
Jinx pouted.
"Liar."
But neither of them pulled away.
That night, darkness settled over the academy.
In her dorm room, Rika knelt before a cracked mirror.
The glass shimmered unnaturally.
Her eyes glowed faint blue.
"The seal is weakening," she muttered. "She's remembering too fast."
The mirror rippled.
A voice echoed from within.
"Then eliminate her… before the Star Flame fully returns."
Rika's expression turned cold.
A slow smile spread across her lips.
"With pleasure."
The mirror darkened.
And the room fell silent.