Aeryn’s laugh faded into a soft smile as she shook her head. “I think I’ll take the moment to breathe,” she said, her voice lighter than before.


    Caelus chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “Fair enough." He took a slow sip of his coffee, his sharp gaze never quite leaving her face. “You handled yourself well, Aeryn. It’s no small feat to come through something like that with your bond not just intact, but strengthened.”


    She glanced at Sylra, who hovered at her side, her light a comforting presence. “I don’t think I could’ve done it without her,” Aeryn admitted, her tone soft.


    Sylra pulsed warmly in response, and Caelus nodded, his expression softening slightly. “That’s the nature of a true bond. It’s not just about strength—it’s about trust, understanding, and the ability to support one another even in the darkest moments.”


    Aeryn shifted in her seat, the weight of his words settling over her. “That creature,” she began hesitantly. “It said something. ‘You don’t belong here.’ Do you think it… meant me?”


    Caelus’s brow furrowed slightly, and he set his cup down with care. “No,” he said after a moment. “That was not for you.”


    His answer was simple, but the weight behind it was enough to silence any follow-up questions she might have had.


    Caelus leaned forward, his elbows resting on his cluttered desk, hands steepled beneath his chin. His piercing eyes, though not unkind, carried an intensity that made Aeryn feel as though every thought she had was being quietly dissected.


    “So,” he began, his tone even and measured, “the entity you encountered. Tell me everything you know.”


    Aeryn glanced at Sylra, uncertainty flickering in her expression. “I… don’t really know anything about it,” she admitted, her voice hesitant. “It was just… there. Always lurking, always watching. I thought it was just part of the ruins. I never—”


    “It’s not her fault,” Sylra interrupted, her soft glow brightening as she drifted closer to Caelus. “She couldn’t have known. It stayed hidden from her, biding its time.”


    Caelus’s gaze shifted to Sylra, his expression sharpening with interest. “But you knew,” he said, his voice quiet but pointed. “You’ve encountered it before, haven’t you?”


    Sylra pulsed faintly, as if gathering herself. “I’ve felt its presence,” she admitted. “Even before the city fell into ruin, it was there—an echo of something ancient, something that didn’t belong. It doesn’t move like we do, doesn’t think like we do. Its purpose isn’t something I can easily explain.”If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Caelus nodded, gesturing for her to continue.


    “For a long time, it stayed dormant, content to remain in the shadows,” Sylra continued. “But as the city decayed, it grew stronger, feeding off the despair and emptiness left behind. It became more than just a presence—it became a force.”


    “And what is its purpose?” Caelus asked, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.


    Sylra hesitated, her light dimming slightly. “I don’t know if it has one,” she said at last. “But it knows how to claim things—people, places, memories. It takes what doesn’t belong to it and twists it into something… wrong.”


    Caelus leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly against the desk. “A force of reclamation, then? Or destruction?”


    “Both,” Sylra replied. “It doesn’t create or destroy in the way you might think. It alters, reshapes, consumes. It takes what it touches and makes it unrecognizable.”


    Aeryn shifted in her seat, her brow furrowing. “Why does it care about us, then? Or about you?” she asked, glancing at Sylra and then back at Caelus.


    Caelus’s expression darkened slightly, his gaze growing distant. “That’s what I’m trying to understand,” he said quietly.


    “Its words—‘You don’t belong here’—those weren’t for you. They were for me.”


    Sylra pulsed again, her light tinged with unease. “It knew you were watching,” she said. “It’s not just an entity—it’s aware.”


    The room fell silent, the weight of her words settling over them like a heavy fog.


    After a long moment, Caelus stood, his movements deliberate. “Thank you,” he said, his voice softer now. “You’ve given me much to think about.”


    He turned to Aeryn, his expression easing into a faint smile. “You’ve done well. Both of you. Your trial wasn’t an easy one, and yet here you are.”


    Aeryn blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone. “Uh… thanks?” she said uncertainly, glancing at Sylra for reassurance.


    Caelus chuckled lightly, waving a hand. “Go on, then. Your trial is complete. I’ll send you to rejoin the others.”


    Before Aeryn could respond, a warm glow enveloped her and Sylra, the familiar pull of magic tugging at the edges of her consciousness. The room dissolved into light, and when it faded, she found herself standing in the middle of a large arena.


    Around her, dozens of students milled about, their voices rising and falling in a chaotic symphony of excitement and nerves. Some were seated in groups, animatedly discussing their trials, while others stood alone, scanning the crowd with wide, uncertain eyes.


    Sylra floated beside her, her presence grounding as Aeryn took in the bustling scene. She scanned the crowd, her gaze landing on a familiar figure.


    He stood a short distance away, his sandy-colored hair catching the light as he spoke animatedly with another boy.


    Aeryn hesitated, a flicker of relief passing through her as their eyes met briefly. He gave her a small nod, his expression a bit flustered, quickly returning his focus to the conversation he was having.


    She lingered for a second longer, then moved on. He was just someone she’d crossed paths with briefly, nothing more. But in a place filled with unfamiliar faces and voices, even the smallest connection felt grounding, if only for a moment.


    Sylra hovered close, her light brushing against Aeryn’s shoulder in a gesture of quiet reassurance. She let out a slow breath, her gaze shifting back to the crowd as she started weaving her way through, eager to find her place among a growing number of students.