CHAPTER ELEVEN

The iron gates beneath the platform groaned open, the sound echoing across the arena like a warning. Every student instinctively stepped back, yet not a single instructor moved. Instead of wolves, six creatures emerge—sleek, shadow-like beasts with glowing amber eyes and long antlers twisted like branches. They don't attack. They circle the arena, sniffing the air as though searching for something.

One Beta whispers, "Night Stalkers..."

Another mutters, "Why are they using them on freshers?"

Even the senior students look uneasy.

Instructor Kael raises a hand. "These creatures cannot be defeated." The murmuring dies immediately. "They exist for one purpose." He pauses. "They expose fear."

He immediately calls students one after another. Each showed whether it could be defeated. One student screamed before the beast even reached him. Another dropped to his knees, shaking uncontrollably. A Gamma froze in place, unable to move, while a Beta was knocked off the platform within seconds. Until it was finally my turn, the entire field fell silent. 

"Fantastic," I muttered. "Yesterday I rang an ancient bell. Today I'm the breakfast." 

"You'll be fine," Lila said, patting my back.

"You sound suspiciously unconcerned."

"I'm choosing optimism."

"I'm choosing survival."

The blindfold was finally on my eyes. Everything went dark; I couldn't hear anything. Instead of hearing the creature, I felt it. This time around, it wasn't with my eyes or ears; it's almost like the air itself changed direction. Without thinking, I step left, and a claw slices through the space where I had been standing. Gasps erupt around the arena. My every move felt like I was instructed, I duck, spin, move again; every dodge is instinctive. 

All I could hear was  "Impossible..." at least that smiled at me, though I was curious. 

Across the training grounds, Adrian stops talking to another Alpha. His eyes never leave Nira.For the first time since meeting her...His expression cracks. As if he's seeing something he hoped never to see. He whispers under his breath,

"So it has begun..."

The Night Stalker suddenly stops attacking. Instead...It lowers its head, then slowly kneels. No one has ever seen that happen. A silence heavier than fear settles over the arena. The creature lets out a low growl. almost... respectful. Then it backs away from Nira on its own.

Instructor Kael immediately ends the exercise.

"Enough," with a calm voice

I couldn't move. The creature had bowed... to me. Around me, no one spoke. Even the instructors looked unsettled. My heart pounded against my ribs. Who was I? More importantly... what was I? It dawned on me that I could only satisfy my curiosity from the instructor. 

Curiosity got the better of me. I followed Instructor Kael from a distance until he disappeared into the instructors' hall. The door wasn't fully closed. I slipped closer and held my breath. 

"The Bell accepted her."

"The Stalker recognized her."

"This shouldn't be possible."

"What if she's the one mentioned in the prophecy?"

"No."

"We buried that prophecy a century ago."

"...Did we?"

No one answers. I left immediately. 

“The instructor’s office wasn't the best solution right now”

I got to the dormitory so early before Lila, and went to bed immediately, hoping everything was just a dream. That night, I woke to scratching outside the dormitory window. I pulled the curtain aside. No one was there, only a single white feather resting on the windowsill. Wrapped around it...A thin strip of black cloth. My fingers hovered over the feather. A thin strip of black cloth was tied around it. I slowly unfolded it. Three words stared back at me in silver ink.  HE IS ALIVE.

Below it is a symbol. The same symbol is carved into the mystery door I almost opened before Lila came in. 

Behind her, Lila whispers into the darkness.

"...Don't touch it."

Nira spins around.

"But I never told you there was anything there."

Lila's face slowly drains of color.