4. Welcome Walk

The morning at Arkanum Academy dawned with enchanted brilliance, painting the sky in hues of lavender and gold. Pandora had barely woken up when a soft knock echoed at her door. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and opened it to find Amy, smiling sweetly with a shy wave.

"Good morning! I was wondering if you'd like to take a little welcome walk with me. I know a quiet path that’s perfect for clearing the mind," Amy said, her voice like a gentle breeze.

Pandora, still a little dazed, smiled warmly. "I'd love that. I think I could really use it."

The two girls strolled side by side through the corridors, where sunlight filtered through stained-glass windows, coloring their steps with dancing rainbows. The academy was alive but peaceful, its magic humming softly in the walls.

They passed through the outer gardens, where floating petals drifted on air like delicate confetti. Amy pointed to a trail beyond a line of silver willows.

"That way leads to the softer side of the woods. It's usually quiet. No students or professors, just nature," she explained.

Pandora hesitated, feeling a strange pull toward the trees. "Lead the way."

They walked slowly, chatting about their favorite spells, childhood stories, and magical mishaps. Amy shared tales of her homeland, where the rivers glowed blue under moonlight, and Pandora told stories about mischievous sprites who used to braid her hair while she slept.

The path narrowed, and the scenery subtly changed.

The light dimmed.

The air grew colder.

The colors dulled.

Pandora slowed her steps. "This feels… different."

Amy looked around, frowning. "I think we’ve gone too far. This isn’t where I meant to take us."

A gust of wind stirred the leaves, and with it came a chill that made both girls shiver. The forest around them had shifted into something older… darker.

A low growl echoed through the trees.

"Amy…" Pandora whispered.

Then something moved—fast. Just a blur between the shadows. And another.

"Run!" Pandora shouted, grabbing Amy’s hand.

They ran, dodging low branches and leaping over roots. Behind them, a dark creature gave chase, its form undefined, like a nightmare stitched from smoke and teeth. It let out a shriek that made the trees tremble.

Amy stumbled.

Pandora stopped, helping her up. The creature was closing in, too fast.

With no time to think, Pandora raised her hand, and from her palm burst a blinding golden light. A shockwave blasted outward, hurling the shadowy beast back into the darkness.

For a moment, the forest held its breath.

Pandora stared at her hand, glowing faintly. "What was that?"

Amy’s eyes were wide. "That… that was magic. But I’ve never seen anything like it."

Before they could speak again, the shadows parted—and Raven emerged.

She looked furious, her eyes glowing like molten silver under her dark hood.

"What the hell are you doing in the Black Forest?" she demanded.

"We didn’t mean to—" Pandora began, but Raven silenced her with a look.

"You could’ve been killed."

She waved her hand, muttering an ancient phrase. A swirl of black fire wrapped around her fingers as she closed it into a fist and the creature that had begun to reform vanished in a burst of ashes.

Pandora’s breath caught. "That was… forbidden magic."

Raven’s gaze settled on her. "So was the spell you just cast."

"I didn’t mean to… I didn’t even know I could…" Pandora said softly.

Raven stepped closer. Her voice dropped. "You’re awakening, whether you’re ready or not. That kind of power isn’t taught it’s inherited. Ancient. Dangerous."

Amy stood in silence, still shaken.

"You two need to get back. And you," Raven said, pointing to Pandora, "meet me in my tower tonight. We need to talk. Alone."

Pandora nodded, heart pounding.

As they walked back toward the academy, the forest remained silent. But its silence wasn’t peaceful—it was watchful.

And far behind them, hidden in the twisted shadows, something awakened.

A symbol glowed faintly on Pandora’s hand, the same one that had appeared on her mirror.

It pulsed once, then faded.

But its message was clear.

Everything had changed.