Davina and Moverick stood at the edge of the first layer of the Forbidden Forest. The toxic mist still swirled slowly before them, but this time they felt no fear. In Davina's hand, a single strand of Ellara’s hair radiated a soft, bluish-white luminescence—bright enough to force the deadly vapors aside.The mist parted, carving out a wide path ahead. It was as if the gloom itself dared not touch that radiant thread.Davina stared unblinkingly at the glow cupped in her palm. A strange warmth seeped into her fingertips. It was not the biting heat of fire, but a soothing, quiet warmth—something she had never known in all her years residing within the Shadow Realm."Ellara is hardly powerless," Davina murmured under her breath. "She possesses a rare, hidden magic. One that eclipses even our own as the next generation of the Shadow Realm."Moverick stood beside her, his gaze similarly fixed on the glowing strand. "What we are witnessing is proof," he said. "A single strand of Ellara’s hai

Ellara reopened her book after Moverick departed, but her mind no longer registered the script before her. Moverick's smiling face, his gentle manner of speaking, all of it felt unfamiliar yet strangely pleasant.She shook her head, trying to focus on the pages. "I shouldn't be thinking like this," she whispered. "I already have Aldric."Suddenly, the air around her turned frigid. It was no ordinary chill, but a piercing freeze that made the hairs on her neck stand on end. Ellara lifted her head.In the corner of the room, nestled between two dark bookshelves, a shadow stood. Motionless. Formless. It was merely a darkness far deeper than the gloom around it.Ellara tensed. "Who's there?"The shadow did not answer. Slowly, however, it began to move, advancing silently as it glided across the stone floor.Ellara stood up, taking a step back. "I will scream!"The shadow halted. Then, from within its depths, a voice emerged—low, raspy, like a distant whisper."Do not fear, little princess

The hospital room was quiet that afternoon. Kiana sat beside Serena's bed, her hand gently clasping the girl's. Arven stood near the window, letting Kiana speak first."Tell me everything," Kiana said softly. "I'm here to listen."Serena looked at Kiana, then turned her gaze toward Arven. Her eyes were still red, though her tears had dried. Taking a deep breath, she began to speak."That night, I went to a hotel on the outskirts of town. I was brought there by a broker, a man who said he could help me get money. I needed the money, Kiana. My father has prostate cancer. The surgery is expensive, and I have no one else to turn to."Kiana squeezed Serena's hand tighter."The broker told me there was a wealthy man willing to help me, but I had to meet him at the hotel. I knew it wasn't right, but I was desperate." Serena lowered her head. "I went into the room. The lights were dim. I couldn't see his face clearly. But from his voice, and from what the broker told me ... it was Leander."A

Kiana met Arven in the school’s back garden. It was a secluded spot—just an old wooden bench tucked under a sprawling tree, swallowed by unruly, overgrown grass. Arven sat there, staring up at the sky, when Kiana approached with swift steps."Arven," Kiana called out, sitting beside him without pretense. "I need to talk to you."Arven turned his head. Kiana’s face was tense, her gaze sharp. "What’s wrong?"Kiana took a deep breath. "Earlier today, I went to the Elite Circle room. I was going to force Leander to take responsibility for Serena’s pregnancy."Arven frowned. "Kiana—""Wait," Kiana interrupted. "I’m not finished. I hadn't gone inside yet. The door was slightly ajar. And I heard Felix and Darius talking."Arven looked at her intently."They said Leander didn't do it," Kiana said. "Felix was the one who violated Serena. Afterwards, they dragged a heavily intoxicated Leander into that room. They set him up."Arven fell silent. His eyes remained fixed on Kiana, but his mind was

News of the miraculous hospital rain did not merely capture the attention of ordinary citizens. In a motel room on the outskirts of the city, someone sat before a wooden desk, staring at a phone screen with unblinking eyes. He replayed the video of the hospital fire—the towering flames, the sudden downpour, and the water seeking out the fire as if possessing a mind of its own.The man was no ordinary citizen. He was Dr. Malik, a researcher from a shadowy organization entirely unknown to the public. The agency operated in a field never discussed in the open—the study of supernatural phenomena, unseen forces, and individuals possessing abilities beyond human comprehension. For years, the organization had tracked the existence of anomalies across the globe. Most were mere myths. But this time, it was something real.Dr. Malik replayed the video once more. He zoomed in on the exact moment the rain first fell. In the corner of the frame, upon the roof of a building across from the hospital