Far away from Ravencrest Palace, beyond storm-ridden skies and marching armies, stood Grimswald College of Witchcraft & Wizardry—ancient, proud, and untouched by war.
For now.
Inside the grand main hall, near a tall arched window, sat a little girl.
Her name was Eirene.
She was only nine years old.
Her skin was as fair as milk, smooth like fresh cream, and at first glance she looked delicate—almost fragile. Many would call her cute. Harmless.
But anyone who truly noticed her felt it.
A quiet pressure in the air.A presence far too heavy for a child.
Eirene sat with her legs swinging gently, gazing outside with bright, curious eyes. Senior students were arriving one after another, filling the hall with chatter and excitement. Tomorrow marked the beginning of the new academic session—and although first-year students were supposed to arrive only then, Eirene had been here long before.
Grimswald was not just her school.
It was her home.
According to Professor Alric Maeron, the Herbcraft and Minor Healing instructor, Eirene's parents had been his closest friends. They had died in a tragic accident only days after her birth. Since then, Professor Maeron—her godfather—had raised her within Grimswald's walls.
The hall had always been filled with warmth.
Until now.
Without warning, the sunlight outside dimmed. Golden skies turned gray. Thick clouds rolled in violently, as if the heavens themselves were disturbed.
The chatter died down.
Students, professors—everyone turned toward the windows.
Even Headmaster Aurelius Dreymark, rose slowly from his seat, his sharp eyes narrowing as thunder echoed in the distance. Aurelius was no ordinary headmaster. Once the most powerful battle mage in the realm, he was feared in war and respected in peace. Dressed in deep blue robes embroidered with stars, he looked like a figure born from the night sky itself.
A low murmur spread across the hall.
What's happening?Why did the weather change so suddenly?
Then—
Silence.
The massive doors of the main hall opened.
A single figure stepped inside.
He wore dark battle robes marked with ancient sigils, his presence commanding and severe. One glance was enough to identify him.
A Commander of Nightfire Glen.
Shock rippled through the hall.
Never—not once in Grimswald's long history—had such a figure entered the college unannounced.
Ignoring the stunned crowd, the man walked straight toward the headmaster and bowed deeply.
"I apologize, Headmaster Dreymark, for arriving without prior notice," he said solemnly. "But you know the situation outside."
Eirene, seated near the head table, listened quietly.
Aurelius stepped forward himself, returning the greeting—an honor rarely given.
"Commander Maverick," he said gravely. "You have little time. Speak."
The man straightened.
This was Kaelith Maverick.
He withdrew a sealed letter from within his cloak and handed it to the headmaster.
"This letter is from Queen Elysia," Kaelith said. "I ask that you honor her request. She has sacrificed more than anyone for this world."
Aurelius opened the letter and read in silence.
The hall felt suffocating.
After a long moment, the headmaster nodded.
"All of Grimswald," he declared, "along with Nightfire Glen and the Calestra Clan, is bound to fulfill any request made by Elysia."
He looked up at Kaelith.
"Her son, Kalen Ravencrest, will be admitted to Grimswald tomorrow."
A pause.
"I will personally bring him here."
Relief flashed across Kaelith's face. He bowed deeply once more.
"You have my gratitude, Headmaster."
He turned to leave—
When suddenly, the sky outside burned crimson.
A blinding red flash split the clouds.
Gasps echoed throughout the hall.
Eirene's breath caught.
Her chest tightened violently, as if something inside her had shattered. A strange pain surged through her body—foreign, terrifying, and impossible to understand.
Kaelith staggered back, staring at the sky in horror.
"No…" he whispered. "This is impossible."
He turned toward Aurelius, terror written across his face.
"Nine years ago, Theron couldn't break the defenses of Valestra Palace—not even after seven months of siege!" His voice shook. "How could he do it now… within an hour?"
The color drained from the headmaster's face.
"There is only one explanation," Aurelius said darkly. "Someone betrayed the Valestra family."
The words fell like a death sentence.
Fear spread among the professors.
Before anyone could speak—
THUD.
A body collapsed to the floor.
"Eirene!"
Professor Maeron rushed forward, lifting the unconscious girl into his arms. Her skin was cold, her breathing uneven.
Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the hospital wing.
Aurelius Dreymark slowly turned his gaze away from the crimson sky.
His sharp, calculating eyes settled on the woman standing to his right.
Professor Seraphina Duskbane.
The Vice Headmistress of Grimswald.
She stood tall and composed, her long raven-black hair tied neatly behind her back, streaked faintly with silver despite her youthful face. Her eyes—deep violet and unnervingly calm—missed nothing. Clad in dark robes embroidered with ancient warding runes, she radiated quiet authority.
Where Aurelius was wisdom and foresight,Seraphina was discipline and command.
One glance from the headmaster was enough.
She understood.
Without hesitation, Seraphina stepped forward, her voice amplified by magic yet steady and controlled.
"All students," she announced, her tone cutting cleanly through the lingering fear in the hall. "You are to return immediately to your respective House dormitories."
The murmurs began again—but she raised a single hand.
Silence fell.
"No one is to leave their dormitory until further notice," she continued. "You will remain there until instructions are given directly by a professor."
Her eyes swept across the hall, lingering briefly on the younger students—then on the seniors who were beginning to understand the gravity of the situation.
"Dinner will be served in each House's common room at the usual time."Her voice hardened. "There will be no gatherings in the Great Hall tonight."
No explanations.No reassurances.
That alone told the students everything they needed to know.
Prefects immediately sprang into action, guiding students toward their respective exits. The hall filled with the soft shuffle of footsteps and hushed whispers.
Did you see the sky?Was that a war signal?Why was a Nightfire Glen commander here?
Within minutes, the main hall was nearly empty.
Only the professors remained.
Seraphina turned back to Aurelius, her expression dark.
"I've activated the inner wards," she said quietly. "Grimswald is sealed."
Aurelius nodded slowly.
"Good," he replied. "If Theron has truly breached Valestra Palace, then nowhere else in Aetherion can be considered safe."
"Professor Seraphina," he said calmly, though urgency burned beneath his composed voice, "I will be leaving the school for now. The situation outside can no longer be ignored."
Seraphina straightened at once.
"Until I return, Grimswald is under your command," Aurelius continued. "Ensure the students remain safe. Maintain the wards at full strength."
He paused briefly.
"I will first check on Eirene's condition in the hospital wing before departing."
Seraphina nodded without hesitation, her violet eyes sharp and resolute.
"Grimswald will not fall in your absence, Headmaster," she replied. "If anything spirals out of control, you will be informed immediately."
Aurelius gave a final, approving glance around the now-empty hall.
Then, without another word, his robes swirling like gathering shadows, the Headmaster of Grimswald turned and walked swiftly toward the hospital wing, leaving behind a school bracing itself for the storm yet to come.