SAGE'S POV

The cold, dead air hit us the exact second we crossed the threshold. We were finally inside the belly of the old prison complex.

Ayon sa mga kasamahan ko, this towering structure boasted six floors, hundreds of isolated cells, and nearly 250,000 square feet of freezing, abandoned stone. Hindi ko maiwasang mapatitig, a wave of dark amazement and a deep, instinctual chill running through me at the same time. Bawat maruming pader na aming nadaanan ay tila bumubulong—parang isang multong dumaan sa hangin at tahimik na naghihikayat sa amin na magpatuloy sa pagkilos.

So far, isang hallway pa lang ang nadaanan namin, but the eerie silence felt far too loud to ignore.

Naglakad si Ashriel nang ilang hakbang sa unahan, naliwanagan ang aming daanan gamit ang isang kumikislap na bola ng apoy na lumulutang sa ibabaw ng kanyang palad. Its orange glow cast dancing, distorted shadows across rusted iron bars and dusty, cracked floorboards.

"Ang laki naman pala nito," Cedric muttered, his voice echoing slightly as he peered into the hollow depths of one of the dark cells. "And it feels like we've been walking forever."

"Sixteen minutes, actually," Iago corrected nonchalantly, scanning the gloom with a heavy frown. "But not a single suspicious movement. Nothing. It's boring."

Edna snorted, shooting him a look. "What, were you hoping for jump scares?"

Iago rolled his eyes dramatically. "I'm hoping to be done with this. None of you want to be stuck here overnight, trust me."

Napayakap si Edna sa kanyang sarili, halatang giniginaw. "Right. Thanks for the cheerful reminder."

Tahimik akong nakasunod sa kanila at mahigpit kong binalot ng cloak ko ang katawan ko. My gaze darted restlessly to every corner, tracking every shifting shadow. Nang dumako ang mga mata ko sa kanan, natigilan ako. Bahagya akong napasinghap nang may mapansin akong mayroong umiilaw na kulay pulang liwanag pero agad itong naglaho bago ako kumurap.

I blinked rapidly, rubbing my eyes. Huh?

"Something the matter, Sythria?"

I flinched, turning quickly toward Ashriel. He had looked up from the magickal map held in his other hand, his full attention now fixed on me.

"Not really..." I murmured, forcing a heavy sigh to easily change the subject. "Have you ever been to a place like this before?"

He paused, his steady pace instantly adjusting. Ashriel slowed his steps, intentionally matching his stride to mine.

"...Not this particular one," he finally said softly. He looked back down the long corridor, the firelight reflecting in his eyes. "There are several prison complexes scattered across Ashburn. I've been assigned to one before, but this... this isn't it. It feels entirely different." He hesitated for a moment. "After all, the one we're in right now is the largest complex in existence."

"Are missions actually supposed to be like this?" nakasimangot na tanong ko habang lumilingon-lingon sa mga kinalawangan na mga cell bars na nakahanay dito sa hallway. "I mean... sa ganitong dilim? At sa lugar kung saan delikado?" I couldn't stop the anxious questions from spilling out, my fingers tightening their grip on the fabric of my cloak. "Mga estudyante pa lang naman tayo ah. Shouldn't someone else—like actual adults—be handling things like this?"

"I wonder about that myself sometimes," Ashriel said, closing his eyes briefly. "But yeah... the academy has always been big on fieldwork like this."

I looked down, aggressively kicking a stray pebble out of my path. Well, damn.

"I used to think it was just bad luck," dagdag ni Ashriel. "But the more I see of our world... the more I think the academy just wants us to get used to it."

Kumunot ang aking noo. "Get used to what?"

"To the dangers of our realm," he answered simply.

I clicked my tongue in irritation, but I kept my mouth shut and let him continue.

"The academy doesn't just teach from leather-bound books. They believe in hands-on training. They call real-world peril 'preparation,' especially for us—promising witches in the making."

I couldn't help but scowl. "Even if it means throwing us into meat grinders like this?"

"Especially then," Ashriel said calmly. He stopped for a beat, staring up at the vaulted ceiling as if weighing his words. "Alam mo naman siguro ang tungkulin na ginagampanan ni Kane sa Academy, hindi ba?"

Malumanay akong tumango.

"He leads the WICCA student wardens," he continued. "He's a student just like us, but the Consilium trusts him to take charge of vital operations, ranging from internal academy security to high-risk external matters. And he proves them right—most of the time, he handles it better than the adults do," he noted, a flicker of genuine respect coloring his tone.

He closed his eyes again, a faint, melancholic smile playing on his lips.

"He's been handling missions like these since his first year." He glanced back at the others, his voice dropping to a low whisper. "Students like him... they've taken more trauma and responsibility than most of us could ever imagine. There are some students who actively volunteer for this, and then there are others who just get dragged into the crossfire. The academy—especially the Consilium—trusts them, trusts us, to hold the line."

Ibinalik niya ang tingin sa akin, at binigyan ako ng banayad na ngiti na parang sinusubukang alisin ang hindi nakikitang bigat sa aking mga balikat. "They think throwing us into the fire is the only way to forge stronger witches."

Siningkitan ko siya ng mga mata at natahimik agad ako dahil sa kanyang sinabi.

So ganon pala gumana ang education system namin dito? Akala mo mga fireproof kami na para bang mga estudyanteng pinapadala sa impyerno tapos ang kapal ng mga mukhang sabihin pa, "Para sa ikabubuti ninyo 'yan."

Oh 'diba? Cult behavior. Nangga-gaslight pa. Lakas maka-initiation rite eh.

"Right," I muttered, my shoulders sagging as a deep frown settled on my face. "Even if it breaks some of us in the process."

"Huwag kang mag-alala, Sythria." A soft, reassuring smile warmed his face. "Hindi ka naman nag-iisa dito eh. Kaya nga may kasama ka. We walk in together, we walk out the exact same way. No one gets left behind."

"Kahit na..." I looked down at the dusty floorboards, my voice barely carrying above a whisper. "It still doesn't exactly make it any easier."

Ashriel grinned, playfully bumping his shoulder against mine. "Hey. You're handling it a lot better than you think you are."

I deadpanned, giving him a flat and a look of sarcasm. "Yeah, I am."

He let out a soft chuckle. "You don't have to feel ready. You just have to keep moving." Before I could even register the movement, he raised his hand and casually ruffled my hair.

I stiffened, a severe gasp catching in my throat. My brows knitted together instantly as my brain struggled to process the physical contact.

Did he just... ruffle my hair? What does he think I am, a cat?!

"You know," Iago's mocking voice sharply broke the spell, snapping me out of my daze. "If you're going to be such a useless worrywart, you could always just back out, black witch."

I glared at him, forcing my jaw shut.

"Scaredy-cat!" humagalpak pa ng tawa si Iago. "I thought witches of your lineage were bred to command the darkness!"

"Iago. That's enough," mariing pagsuway ni Ashriel sa kanya.

My jaw clenched so hard it ached, forcing the venomous retort down my throat. Masyadong maingay naman itong salbaheng lalaking bruhang 'to. Command the darkness? Heck, I'm doing him a massive favor by commanding my own restraint right now. Pasalamat na lang siya na wala akong balak sakalin ang leeg niya. 

"What?" Iago shrugged carelessly at Ashriel, completely unbothered. "She should get used to the title if she's going to act like one."

I gritted my teeth in a tense, furious silence, only realizing afterward that my hands were clenched into tight fists.

"Everyone... quiet," pagbabasag ni Ivory sa tensyon na namumuo sa hangin.

Lahat kami napahinto mula sa paglalakad.

"You heard that?" tanong pa ni Ivory.

My eyes widened slightly as I finally took in our surroundings. We were standing in what appeared to be the heart of the prison complex—a massive, sprawling courtyard hall. Nagkalat sa buong paligid ang mga dumi at durog-durog na semento na siyang bakas ng matagal nang pagkasira. Sa aming harapan naman, nakatambad ang dalawang magkahiwalay na hagdanan na umakyat patungo sa pangalawang palapag na may sirang iron railings.

Sa itaas naman, may mga butas sa kisame kung saan nakasilip ang parte ng liwanag ng buwan, nagbibigay ng kakaiba at nakakakilabot na sinag sa loob ng madilim na silid.

"What sound are you talking about?" I asked Ivory, my brow furrowing.

Bago pa man siya makasagot, kusa nalang kaming nakarinig ng hagulgol ng boses babae na umalingawngaw sa mga hungkag na pasilyo. Kasabay nito ang nagmamadaling tunog ng mga mabibigat na yapag na tila papunta sa kinaroroonan namin.

The sound grew louder, closer, and more frantic by the second. Every single one of us threw our guards up, our blood running cold. Tila nababalot ng matinding distorsiyon ang boses na lalong nagpatindig sa aming mga balahibo.

"Galing yata 'yon doon," Cedric whispered, gesturing toward a splintered wooden door barely hanging onto its rusted hinges.

I whipped my head toward the direction of his hand.

A thick, unnatural fog began to creep across the stone floor as the very air shifted, growing heavy and suffocating. The woman's agonizing wailing intensified, warping into something deeply guttural and predatory.

"It has to be one of the missing witches!" Edna gasped, panic flashing in her eyes. "Kailangan natin siyang tulungan—" Tatakbo na sana siya papunta roon ngunit bigla nalang siyang hinarangan ni Ashriel gamit ang kanyang braso.

"Wait. Just because it sounds human doesn't mean it is," paalala ni Ashriel.

Tinanguan siya ni Iago bilang pagsang-ayon. "Yeah. That cry is completely off. It's not entirely human."

Hindi boses tao?!

Hindi ko mapigilang manginig dahil sa narinig. "If it's not h-human, then what is it—?"

"Something in between," Ivory said grimly, her voice deathly calm. "Something that hasn't finished turning yet."

Bago pa man matapos ang kanyang sasabihin, humakbang na si Ashriel. The dancing firelight flickered across his fiercely determined face as he advanced toward the cracked door.

"Wait—Ashriel—is that what I think it is—?!" Edna frantically gasped, clutching her hair as her eyes swelled with mounting horror.

As if on cue, the splintered door violently burst open.

Isang babae ang biglang sumambulat mula sa pintuan. Her entire body was thrashing violently, and thick, ropy black veins were pulsing visibly beneath her sickly pale skin. Ashriel reacted in a split second, catching her firmly by the shoulders before she could collapse hard onto the floor.

The woman unleashed a harsh, ragged shriek. Tears of dark crimson blood streamed down her cheeks as she struggled with terrifying, unnatural strength to break free from Ashriel's hold.

My jaw dropped, my breath hitching completely.

Holy hexes. What in the actual hell is happening to her?!

"A witch caught mid-transformation," Ivory remarked, her voice devoid of emotion. "One step away from becoming a devourer."

You've got to be kidding me.

The tension in the room snapped tight like a piano wire. The entire group stood frozen in horror as Ashriel wrestled against the violently contorting woman.

"Hoy! Halcyon! Sunugin mo na siya bago mahuli ang lahat!" Iago shouted, his hand gripping his weapon. "We don't need another fucking parasite running wild!"

Hindi makasagot si Ashriel. He kept his grip iron-clad, his eyes fiercely scanning the woman as her body writhed in agony, the black corruption creeping rapidly up her neck. He didn't flinch. He held her steady, his jaw clenched, watching the dark veins spread.

"T-that's... what 'turning' looks like?" wala sa sariling tanong ko habang gulat na nakatitig sa babae. I had never witnessed the transformation happening right in front of my eyes. Not even once.

Ivory cast a brief, calculating glance at me. "First time?"

I nodded hesitantly, the lump in my throat preventing me from speaking.

"Witches with fragile minds... those who lose absolute control over their own magick end up like this," Ivory explained coldly. "Devoured... by the very power they were supposed to wield."

"Oi! Ano na?!" sigaw naman ni Iago, nag-eecho ang kanyang boses sa paligid. "Are you going to kill it, or should I?!"

"She—" Ashriel gritted his teeth, his muscles straining as he forced the thrashing woman to stay still. "She still has something to say!"

"H-hey, Ivory..." Cedric turned toward her, pure desperation swimming in his wide eyes. "There's still a way to turn her back to normal, right? A reversal?"

Ivory's eyes narrowed into slits of pure ice. "There is no cure."

Nanlaki ang mata akong napatingin sa kanya. Seriously? No cure?

"But it's been centuries since devourers first appeared!" Cedric argued frantically, his voice cracking. "Magick has evolved since then—there has to be something!"

"Yeah!" pagsisingit ni Edna sa usapan. "There are witches working on it, right? Research, experiments—"

"Any attempt to reverse the turning is a direct, capital violation of Coven Law." Ivory cut her off instantly, her voice sharp as a blade.

Nagtataka akong bumaling kay Ivory. "Bakit? Bakit magiging isang violation ang pagtatangkang iligtas ang buhay ng isang tao?"

Ivory met my gaze with a completely blank, detached expression. "Devourers are lethal, and their blood is even worse. It's highly contaminated. Do you honestly think you can dissect a devourer's corpse without vomiting from the pure stench of corruption?"

I flinched visibly under Ivory's sharp, piercing stare, clamping my mouth shut as she continued.

"That is exactly why the Consilium forbids it. Plenty of alchemy witches have tried to find a cure and conduct secret research on them..." She clicked her tongue, shaking her head slowly as her gaze drifted to the floor. "But none of them actually made it out. Because those who try... they get called out for attempting to study it. Some are branded traitors to the realm. And others are... silenced."

Pinapatay sila? Gaano kalala ang ganong batas?

A blood-curdling shriek from the woman snapped my head back to the center of the room. Her body twitched with violent, bone-snapping tremors against Ashriel's chest.

"T-that makes sense," Edna stammered, her face pale as she watched them wrestle.

"If she fully turns right now, it will be catastrophic. The blood of a newborn devourer is highly infectious," Ivory added, her voice dropping an octave. "Ashriel is in immediate danger. If even a single drop of that blood touches his skin—"

"Ashriel is a fifth-year!" Edna interrupted Cedric quickly, trying to reassure herself. "Witches with elite control over their bodies are far less susceptible to infection, right?"

Ivory nodded slowly. "Yes. His magickal resistance is exceptionally high. And our reinforced academy cloaks help buffer the exposure. But even so... it's an extreme risk." Dumilim ang ekspresyon ni Ivory sa mukha habang bumalik ang kanyang tingin kina Ashriel. "Tama si Iago. Kailangang patayin ni Ashriel ang buhay ng babaeng 'yan."

Tahimik ko lamang pinagmasdan si Ivory. Hindi ko alam kung nalinlang ba ako ng mga mata ko, ngunit kusa nalang akong nakaramdam ng mabigat na enerhiya mula sa kanya—kasabay nito ang kusang paglitaw ng isang black mist mula sa kanyang likod.

I instinctively pressed a hand against my chest, my heart hammering. "Has this happened before?" The question spilled from my lips before I could stop myself.

Ivory remained entirely silent. Her expression was completely unreadable as she watched the agonizing scene play out. She said nothing... but her silence spoke volumes.

"N-no..."

The woman's piercing screams suddenly fragmented into desperate, human sobs. Her voice distorted wildly, warping back and forth between a guttural, monstrous growl and something heartbreakingly human.

Ang babae na punong-puno ng luha at dugo, ay tumingala sa aming lahat nang may matinding takot sa kanyang mga mata. "P-pakiusap... patayin mo ako..."

Natigilan kami.

"Patayin niyo na ako—" nag-iipon ng pwersa ang babae sa gitna ng kanyang mga sigaw. "B-before I turn into one of those monsters—"

Ashriel's face contorted into a deep, painful grimace as he actively averted his eyes from her pitiful, weeping gaze.

"Narinig mo siya, Halcyon? Patayin mo na!" Iago roared, his fingers wrapping tightly around the hilt of his weapon.

"H-hindi mo na ako m-maililigtas pa..." Mas lumakas ang iyak ng babae, nagsisimula nang manigas ang kanyang katawan.

Ashriel slowly raised his eyes, finally looking directly into her face.

"He's here. The madman..." the woman whispered weakly, dark blood beginning to spill rapidly from her lips.

Ashriel's eyes widened in sheer shock.

The crimson fluid poured down her chin as she forced out her final, terrifying words:

"S-Silas. SILAS IS BACK...!"

Silas? Who the hell is—

Parang lahat kami ay sandaling tinamaan ng kidlat. Ashriel's entire body went completely rigid. His face drained of color, turning blank and dead. His gaze became incredibly tense, darkening into a hollow, empty void.

Gayunpaman, nanatiling nakahawak ang kanyang mga kamay na parang mga kadenang bakal sa mga balikat ng babae.

Hindi ko maiwasang makaramdam ng matinding pag-aalala dahil sa nasaksihan kong emosyon galing sa kanya. "Ashriel—?!"

Malakas akong napasinghap nang biglang nagliyab ang mga kamay ni Ashriel at kaagad na nilamon ng malaking apoy ang katawan ng babae. Gayunpaman, nanatiling nakatali ang kanyang mga kamay na parang mga kadenang bakal sa mga balikat ng babae.

Within seconds, she was gone—leaving nothing behind but a heavy scattering of ash falling through the air.

"I'm sorry..."

Halos hindi namin marinig ang bulong ni Ashriel. Nanatiling namilog ang kanyang mga matang nakatingin sa mga abo, tuluyang naparalyzed ang kanyang katawan.

I... I had never seen Ashriel look like this. He looked so utterly cold, so hollowed out... hindi ko alam pero bigla akong natakot para sa kanya.

"There are times when we don't get a choice," Ivory said softly, her voice holding a heavy, unfamiliar layer of raw sincerity. She glanced at me from the corner of her eye. "Just like someone I know... a friend who was forced to do the exact same thing. Only she had to end the life of the person she loved."

My gaze flicked rapidly between Ashriel and Ivory. The air between them had suddenly turned thick and suffocating, pressing inward against my own chest. Pamilyar sa akin ang enerhiyang nararamdaman ko mula sa kanila—it was the exact same dreadful, chilling pressure of an echo. The physical weight of raw grief and suppressed emotion that always warned me when a person was wound so tightly they were about to snap.

Sa pagkakataon na 'yon, hindi ko talaga alam kung anong gagawin ko rito. Nag-alinlangan akong gumalaw sa aking kinatatayuan. But in the end, I chose to stay put and let them have their silence. I knew they desperately needed that space right now.

Dumaan ang ilang sandaling katahimikan nang biglang yumanig ang lugar.

After a few grueling moments of absolute silence, the entire foundations of the prison suddenly buckled.

A muffled, low rumble vibrated through the stone floors, immediately followed by the distinct, deafening sounds of harsh, demonic snarling echoing through the walls.

"What the—?!" Edna shrieked, her eyes darting wildly around the room.

The ancient walls continued to groan under the pressure, and a synchronized chorus of monstrous roars exploded from above us.

"W-we didn't touch anything—did we trigger a trap?!" nag-aalala na tanong ni Cedric.

Iago snarled, drawing his weapon as he whipped his head upward. "Look up!"

Halos tumalon ang aming kaluluwa nang biglang umulan ng hindi mabilang na mga devourer mula sa pangalawang palapag. Forced to stagger backward, our feet instinctively guided us until we were crammed shoulder-to-shoulder in a tight defensive circle in the dead center of the hall, just as the monsters closed in from all sides.

Ramdam ko ang paninikip ng aking dibdib. "Hush..." Agad akong napa-summon ng dagger kahit nanginginig na ang aking mga kamay.

"See, Iago?! Ginusto mo 'to diba?!" naiinis na wika ni Edna. "A bunch of freaking jump scares?!"

"Tch. I expected trouble, not a damn stampede!" Iago spat back, baring his teeth.

The devourers groaned in a horrific, high-pitched harmony, their thick, blood-soaked limbs twitching violently as they rose from the floor. Even though we were completely surrounded, every single one of us focused entirely on the threat.

"They definitely weren't kidding when they said this place was haunted," Ivory muttered dryly.

My breath sputtered out in uneven gasps, my hands shaking uncontrollably. Patay na ako nito. Hindi ko pa nararanasang makipaglaban sa ganitong kalaban. This is my first real, live combat. This isn't a classroom drill. Hindi na siya isang controlled lesson anymore.

This is a literal life-or-death battle.

"I've seen far worse things than ghosts," Ashriel said, leaning in slightly as his voice dropped into a low, smooth register right against my ear. He had positioned himself directly behind me, our backs pressed firmly together in the tight formation. "But if I lose you here... I will burn this entire complex to the ground."

I furrowed my brows, glancing slightly over my shoulder. "Okay. Overreacting much???"

Ashriel simply shook his head, a quick, breathless laugh escaping his lips. "Just don't go running off, alright?"

I scoffed, though the sudden, undeniable rush of anxiety made my heart pound like a war drum against my ribs. "I'm not running! But I dare you to actually commit arson right now."

Biglang napalingon ang lahat ng mga kasama ko sa akin.

"Pfft," Ashriel snorted out loud, actively fighting a grin.

Hindi ko mapigilang suminghal sa kanilang lahat. "A-ano? Tapusin na kaya natin 'to. Ayaw niyo na bang umuwi?!"

Everyone deadpanned simultaneously.

For a brief second, they looked completely unbothered by the sharp, high-pitched hissing of the devourers closing the gap around us.

"...Did she really just dare the fire boy to burn down a haunted prison?" Iago asked, looking utterly exhausted as he stared at me with a deep frown.

"I mean, may point naman siya. Gusto ko na ring umuwi eh!" puna ni Edna.

"Yeah, her tactic actually makes a lot of sense if we want to clean up this mess quickly," Cedric agreed, sounding surprisingly rational.

"You are seriously insane," Sinamaan ako ng tingin ni Ivory.

Wala sa sarili akong ngumuso. Kung pwede lang sana takasan itong misyon, edi kanina ko pa sana ginawa! I'm only being this 'insane' because I want to fast-forward straight to the exit. Damn it.

"Alright," Ashriel smirked, a flash of genuine, dangerous mischief igniting in his red-golden eyes. "Guess we're burning it down then."

Huh?

"Seryoso—" Magpo-protesta na sana ako nang biglang ikinumpas ni Ashriel ang kanyang kamay at agad siyang nagsummon ng apoy.

Laglag panga akong napatingin sa kanya. The horrifying realization of what he was about to do hit me like a physical slap to the face.

"H-HALA–WAIT—ASHRIEL!" Napasigaw ako, habang nagmamadaling mahawakan ang kanyang braso. "BIRO LANG 'YON, GAGO!—"

With a sudden, deafening whoosh, a massive, blinding torrent of fire erupted from his palm. The flames roared outward, instantly consuming the front wave of devourers and turning the ancient hallway into a blazing, crackling inferno.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa inis. HE ACTUALLY DID IT. SINUNOG NIYA TALAGA!

"Kieeeee! That is SO HO—I mean—cool! SO COOL!" Edna squealed, her eyes practically sparkling as she watched Ashriel effortlessly set the entire battlefield ablaze.

A cold drop of sweat rolled down my temple as I turned toward her. "Ate, nasaan ang priorities mo ngayon?"

"That's big bro Ashriel for you!" puri naman ni Cedric.

At that exact moment, the entire group launched into action. Kaagad nag-summon si Ivory ng mga ice spikes at itinapon ito sa mga halimaw. Edna was already blasting her offensive magick left and right, lighting up the shadows. In the far corner, Cedric was stammering under his breath while somehow nailing flawless headshots with his alchemical firearm, while Iago unleashed a feral war cry, delivering brutal, tearing slashes against the devourers' mutated bodies with his broadsword.

Malalim akong huminga. I need to move—I need to actually do something too!

Hindi ko pinalampas ang isang devourer na tumatalon patungo sa aking posisyon. Agad akong kumilos at marahas na hiniwa ang leeg nito gamit ang aking punyal. My hands were still shaking, but thank the moon tonight, my reflexes were sharp and precise.

Suddenly, another monster charged from the blind spot. Wala na akong oras para umilag. In a flash of absolute desperation, I reached out with my magick and grabbed the creature's own shadow, manipulating the dark threads just enough to violently hurl the monster sideways. It crashed hard onto the stones right next to Ivory.

"Ivory!" tawag ko sa kanya. Napakagat-labi ako nang dumaloy ang matinding kirot sa aking braso. Goddammit. I shouldn't have done this!

Mabilis lumingon si Ivory sa tabi niya. With a freezing, ruthless gaze, she slammed her heel heavily onto the creature's deformed torso, pinning it down. She finished the job by viciously impaling its chest with a conjured spear of solid ice. Turning back to me, she gave me a tight, approving nod.

"Argh!" Napangiwi ako sa sakit. Nakaramdam ako ng matinding paghapdi at matinding kirot sa aking kamay, at hindi mapigilang panginginig ng aking mga daliri. I couldn't even close my fist fully, the magickal backlash making it feel like my fingers were being forcibly bent backward.

I let out a shaky, ragged exhale... but from the very edge of my peripheral vision, I noticed the ambient light shift. Something massive and dense blocked the faint moonlight spilling from the ceiling, forcing me to snap my head upward.

And then, I saw it.

May isang pigura ang nakatayo sa may balcony mula sa pangalawang palapag. Tila aliw na aliw siyang pinanood niya kami rito sa baba. Shrouded completely in shifting layers of deep shadow, their glowing crimson eyes were locked directly onto me.

I swallowed hard, trapped under the gaze.

Slowly, deliberately, the black figure raised a single hand toward me.

I stared back, confusion paralyzing my limbs. Ngunit bago pa ako nakapag-react, nakaramdam ako ng matinding presensiya sa aking paanan. Napasinghap ako nang makita ang isang nagliwanag na pulang simbolo na nakaguhit sa ilalim mismo ng aking mga paa.

"AHHHH—!"

A terrified shriek tore from my throat as the solid stone beneath me violently shattered into dust.

"SYTHRIA!"

Ashriel's raw, completely desperate scream was the absolute last sound that pierced through the deafening roar in my ears.

But it was already too late.

I was falling, the blurred, freezing stone walls of the lower levels racing upward past my vision. And then, with a final, sickening lurch of gravity, I disappeared entirely into the absolute, crushing darkness.