The curfew echoes through the hallways.
The lights dim.
The temperature has dropped subtly, as if the school itself has held its breath. The barrier in the distance pulsed with an unstable glow, more vivid than usual.
Ariel sits on her bed, too restless to sleep. The argument with Kael still echoes in her mind.
Something doesn't add up.
He was acting strange.
Tired.
Distant.
She gets up, walks to the window... and then she sees it.
A silhouette slowly crossing the translucent barrier of the school.
The magical field opened like a liquid film, enveloping the tall body before closing again behind him.
Ariel's heart races.
Even from a distance... she recognizes that gait.
"Kael...?"
A chill runs down her spine.
Without thinking twice, she throws her coat over her nightgown and leaves the dormitory.
Because, despite her anger...
She can't just let him go into danger alone.
Without thinking straight, she hurried quickly to the school's boundaries. The barrier reacted to her presence with a slight shiver of light. A strange pull ran through her body, like crossing warm water mixed with electricity.
And then she was on the other side.
The world looked different out there
The air was heavier. The silence wasn't empty—it was attentive.
Ariel walked among the trees, feeling every beat of her own heart echo too loudly in her ears.
"Kael!" she called in an urgent whisper.
He turned abruptly, his eyes wide as he recognized her.
"Are you crazy?!" he hissed, walking quickly toward her. "What are you doing here?!"
Ariel crossed her arms instinctively, trying to control the trembling in her legs.
"The same as you! What are you doing here? This forest is dangerous!"
Kael let out a short, almost nervous laugh.
"Dangerous for you. Not for me."
"What do you mean, not? This area is part of the Black Forest!"
He stared at her for a longer second, his gaze darkening slightly.
Then he leaned closer and whispered,
"I know that, but..."
Ariel frowned.
"But what?"
Kael lowered his voice even further.
"You should look behind you."
Ariel's blood ran cold.
She slowly turned her face.
Something was moving among the trees.
It was tall and slender. Its long limbs seemed to bend at odd angles. Its dark skin reflected the dim light like a living shell. Where a face should have been... there was only a pulsing, breathing slit.
Ariel froze.
Her entire body locked up.
The air simply disappeared from her lungs.
Kael appeared behind her, so close that Ariel felt the warmth of his breath touch the back of her neck.
"It only reacts to sound," he whispered in her ear.
A shiver ran down her spine.
Instinctively, Ariel moved away slightly from that sudden contact—the slightest movement was enough.
A branch snapped under her foot.
The creature turned its head sharply in her direction.
The slit vibrated.
"Damn it, Ariel. Run!" Kael growled.
But she couldn't.
Fear pinned her to the ground.
In one swift motion, Kael pulled her toward him, throwing her over his shoulder as if she weighed nothing.
"Hey!" she tried to protest, but the world turned upside down.
He sprinted between the trees.
The ground shook behind them.
A roar echoed.
Ariel clutched his coat tightly, feeling the wind cut her face as the barrier loomed ahead like a living wall of light.
Kael crossed it without slowing down.
The energy exploded in a brief flash—and then the safe silence of the school engulfed them.
Kael didn't stop until they were several yards inside.
He set her down gently, breathing heavily.
"You could have died," he said, his voice low and tense.
Ariel's heart was still pounding in her chest.
"So could you."
His gaze softened for a second... but then something caught his attention.
Kael slowly raised his face upward.
Ariel followed his gaze.
On one of the towers, perched on the ancient stone, a black owl watched them.
Its golden eyes shone like blades in the dim light.
Nevermore.
Motionless. Alert. Judging.
Kael let out a short sigh.
"Get ready," he murmured. "Tomorrow you'll be summoned to the principal's office. And this time I won't take the blame alone."
Ariel swallowed hard.
For the first time since she had arrived at Noxhollow... she was absolutely certain:
Nothing there would be simple from that moment on.
Hours Later, in the Dormitory...
Ariel wakes up with the strange feeling of being watched.
Still sleepy, she turns over in bed—and almost screams.
At the foot of the bed, two golden eyes stare at her in the soft darkness of the dormitory.
Nevermore.
The black owl is perfectly still, its wings slightly open, like a living statue. In its beak, a small folded piece of paper.
"Ouch!" Ariel puts her hand to her chest, feeling her heart race. "You almost killed me..."
The owl tilts its head, patiently.
Ariel sits up in bed, takes a deep breath, and reaches out to take the note.
Miss Ariel,
Please report to the principal's office immediately.
— Victor Ravenhall
She closes her eyes for a second.
"Great..." she mutters, snorting. "Of course you would find me."
Ariel returns the folded paper and, in an almost automatic gesture, strokes Nevermore's head. To her surprise, the owl accepts the affection with a slight satisfied click of its beak, closing its eyes for a moment.
"Elegant traitor..." Ariel whispers, despite her involuntary smile.
The dormitory is still silent. Lumi sleeps soundly in the bed next to her, curled up under the covers.
It's still too early for any classes.
Ariel gets ready quickly, puts on her coat and boots, and tiptoes out, trying not to make a sound.
The hallway is empty.
The school seems suspended in a state of slow breathing, as if it were still waking up with the sun.
Nevermore takes flight, guiding her through the winding corridors.
With each step, the tension grows.
She already knows exactly why she is there.
When she reaches the large carved door of the principal's office, Ariel hesitates for a second... before pushing it open.
And freezes.
Kael is already there.
Leaning against the circular bookcase, arms crossed, expression tired—but alert. His eyes meet hers almost instantly.
For a brief second, neither of them says anything.
Ariel swallows hard.
"You too..." she begins.
"Yeah," Kael replies simply.
Nevermore lands on one of the tall supports near Victor's desk, like a silent judge.
The door closes behind Ariel with a soft click.
A figure slowly materializes in the center of the room, as if the air were being folded back on itself.
Victor Ravenhall appears, adjusting the sleeves of his vintage coat, his expression serene—but dangerously calm.
He observes the two for a prolonged moment.
"Good morning, young transgressors."
Kael raises an eyebrow.
"Technically, it's still dawn."
Victor smiles slightly.
"Now we can begin."
Victor walks slowly to the circular window of the tower, observing the still-dark sky, dotted with pale stars.
"You have broken the oldest rule of this school," he says without turning around. "The night is not a punishment. It is a territory.
He turns around, his light eyes shining with something indecipherable.
"Therefore, your punishment will be... to get to know the night.
Kael frowns.
"That doesn't sound reassuring at all.
Victor smiles dangerously.
"For the next two weeks, you will be on mandatory Night Watch.
Ariel's eyes widen.
"Watch?
"While the others sleep, you will patrol the inner corridors, forgotten wings, and sensitive areas of the school. Always together. No exceptions.
Nevermore lets out a soft croak, as if in approval.
"You may only carry defensive magic and signaling devices. If something gets out of control, you must retreat and report it. You are not heroes."
Kael crosses his arms.
"And if we refuse?"
Victor tilts his head, overly polite.
"The forest will always be open for more... permanent visits."
Silence.
"Just kidding, you'll just be taking unnecessary risks if you play the heroes. Think of it as an educational privilege," Victor continues. "Few students see the school when it takes off its daytime masks."
He raises a finger.
"First watch: tonight. Midnight sharp."
Ariel swallows hard.
"Dismissed."
They both leave the office, walking side by side.
In the hallway, the silence between them is different from the night before.
Less tension.
Something else... new.
"So..." Ariel breaks the silence. "Looks like we're officially partners in punishment."
Kael looks down the hallway ahead.
"Yeah."
"Thanks... for yesterday," she says with a crooked smile.
Kael looks at her out of the corner of his eye.
"You almost died."
"But you didn't let me."
His eyes soften for a moment—too quickly to be consciously noticed.
"Yeah..." he murmurs. "I wouldn't have."
They walk side by side down the empty hallway.
They say goodbye in the dorm hallway, each going their separate ways, as it is still very early.