The day passed in a haze. Alchemy, training, study, and yet all I could think about was the Codex—its whispered secrets beckoning me like a forbidden fruit I wasn't sure I was ready to taste. Freya's approval of my work, the strange glow of my elixir, and the unspoken weight of her unblinking gaze lingered in the back of my mind. But what truly occupied my thoughts were the unsettling shadows that seemed to grow closer each day. The feeling of being watched had only intensified, as if unseen eyes tracked my every move.
By now, I was used to being the odd one out. Whether it was because my powers didn't register on the power stone or the simple fact that I was different—chimeric, with two souls—I had always felt like an outsider. But this feeling was different. It was a quiet pressure, like the air thickening with each breath I took, suffocating my thoughts.
My mind drifted back to the Spirit beasts egg resting on my desk in my dorm room. The bond was growing stronger, its faint pulse echoing through me, synchronizing with my heartbeat. I still couldn't explain it—why did I feel so drawn to it? Why did it feel as if the very core of my being was calling out to the egg, and vice versa?
It had to be connected to something much bigger than me—something linked to the prophecy and the dark forces that were already stirring in the shadows of this world.
The door to the dorm creaked open. I hadn't noticed anyone approach, but I wasn't surprised when Aerin stepped inside. Her face was pale, the usual spark in her eyes replaced with a serious intensity I hadn't seen before.
"Aerin?" I asked, unable to mask the concern in my voice. "What's wrong?"
She closed the door quietly behind her and looked around the room, her eyes darting nervously. "We need to talk. It's important."
I felt my pulse quicken, the unease I'd been feeling since the day the Codex had made its appearance intensifying. "What's happened?"
She hesitated, as if choosing her words carefully. "I've been getting... strange messages. It's about the Church of the Goddess. Someone's been watching you, Sky. Someone who knows about your—about your origins."
I froze. The words hit me like a punch to the gut. "The Church of the Goddess? What do you mean, watching me? How—?"
Aerin placed a hand on my shoulder, her grip tight. "I don't know the full details. But I've heard whispers, Sky. Whispers about you, about your connection to the goddess and the prophecy. The Church is interested in you. And that's not all."
I took a step back, my mind racing. "The prophecy? But I don't—how would they know about that? I haven't—"
"You don't have to say it," Aerin cut in softly. "I've seen it in your eyes, Sky. The way you hesitate when people mention the goddess, the way you act like you don't belong, like you're a part of something bigger. You're right. There's something inside you that the Church wants."
I swallowed hard. The prophecy—the reason I had been born into this world with such unusual powers—had always been a part of me, something that haunted me more than guided me. But hearing it spoken aloud, seeing the worry in Aerin's eyes, made it all too real. And suddenly, I realized how little I truly understood about the forces at play here.
"How do you know all this?" I asked, my voice shaking.
Aerin exhaled slowly, her eyes flicking toward the door as if checking for anyone who might overhear. "I overheard something—something I wasn't supposed to. There's a faction within the Church that's been tracking powerful individuals, Sky. Not just anyone with spiritual power, but people with... specific traits. People like you."
I couldn't hold back my questions. "But why me? I don't even know what they want, what connection I have to this prophecy."
Aerin's face grew darker. "It's not just the prophecy, Sky. It's your bloodline. You're part of a lineage that hasn't been seen in generations. The Church believes you're key to something. I don't know exactly what that is, but I'm certain they're not the only ones watching you. There are other factions, too—people who want to control your power."
I shook my head, trying to process everything she was saying. It was too much. How could they know so much about me, about my connection to the goddess? Why was I being targeted by these hidden forces?
"I've been following the signs," Aerin continued. "And I don't think you're safe here. They might be watching us already. We can't ignore this any longer."
My heart pounded in my chest. I wanted to ask more—wanted to demand answers, but the words seemed to evaporate before they reached my lips.
Aerin stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Sky, you have to be careful. We have to be careful. The Church is just the beginning. There's something much darker, something that's been watching you, and they won't stop until they get what they want."
I nodded slowly, the weight of her words sinking in. The shadows were moving closer, and it seemed like I was caught in their web without even realizing it. The more I tried to unravel the mystery of my own existence, the more I found myself tangled in the strings of fate that had been set in motion long before I even arrived at the school.
The next few days passed in a blur of careful glances and hushed conversations. Aerin was right—there was something wrong. Every time I walked through the hallways of the academy, I couldn't shake the feeling that eyes were upon me. I would catch someone staring, their gaze lingering just a moment too long before they turned away, pretending not to notice me. It was subtle, but it was there, like an invisible hand brushing against my skin.
Freya, the Dean of Alchemy, had become even more distant, her eyes often lingering on me with a knowing look I couldn't quite decipher. And though I'd passed the first alchemy tests with flying colors, I couldn't help but wonder if she had seen something in me—something I hadn't fully understood yet.
And then there was the egg—the spirit beast egg. The bond between us was growing stronger each day, the pull almost magnetic. It had become my silent companion, its faint pulse a reminder that something beyond my control was taking shape inside me. Was it the beginning of my transformation? Or the first sign of something darker?
I didn't know. But I couldn't ignore the gnawing feeling that something terrible was about to unfold.
As I walked to my alchemy class one morning, my thoughts were interrupted by a soft voice from behind me. I turned to find Kai Xu standing in the hallway, his cold eyes meeting mine. For a moment, neither of us said anything. His usual aloofness had returned, but this time, there was something else—something I couldn't quite place.
"You seem distracted," Kai Xu said, his voice low and clipped. "Is something on your mind, Sky?"
I felt my heart skip a beat. How did he know?
"I'm fine," I replied quickly, forcing myself to meet his gaze. "Just... trying to focus on my studies."
His lips twitched, just barely. "Are you sure? You don't seem like someone who is simply focusing on studies."
I didn't respond immediately. Something about his words made me uneasy. But before I could say anything, he turned and began to walk away, his back to me. His next words stopped me cold.
"Stay alert, Sky," he said over his shoulder. "The world is more dangerous than you think."